WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a comprehensive briefing with Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) federal officials provided a timely progress report on the on-going investigation into the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) handling of asbestos contamination and cleanup at the W.R. Grace & Co./Zonolite plant in Hamilton, New Jersey and at least 10 other sites around the country.  They also said additional information is being sought from Hamilton Township officials to complete the report.

Smith secured the investigation by the federal government’s top investigative arm, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), in 2005 after reports in the local daily newspapers showed that the public may not have received timely and accurate information from state, local and federal agency officials about the level of contamination at the now closed facility.

“The GAO’s team of scientific and environmental experts has been out to several sites, including ours in Hamilton and they are developing a critical matrix which chronicles the information known, the means of notification to the public and the actions taken to ensure safety in different regions around the country,” Smith said.  “We expect to see categorically, where EPA responded appropriately and what regions may have been left to fend for themselves.”

Smith said the GAO’s preliminary findings show that more than 204,000 tons of potentially contaminated ore was shipped to and processed in Hamilton, making it the 10th largest of 269 sites identified nationwide to receive materials from the W.R. Grace mine in Libby, Mt.  

“Volume of activity and the past exposure for workers at the plant make it absolutely critical that we know where notification mistakes may have been made and who is responsible,” he said.

Smith said the GAO reported that their investigation is expected to be finalized in November.  He said that the GAO team reported having difficulty in receiving requested follow-up information from Hamilton officials which could prove critical to the final report.

“The GAO is gathering information, checking and double checking communications between officials involved at every level of the notification process,” Smith said.  “It is imperative that township officials return their calls and emails which we were told have gone unanswered for over a month,” he said.

  “The GAO has a record of success in identifying government problems, corrective actions and the appropriate means to hold responsible parties accountable,” Smith said.  “Their investigation and findings can ultimately enhance the health and safety of those associated with this asbestos contaminated site.”

The preliminary findings shared with Smith showed that 6.4 million tons of potentially contaminated vermiculite ore from a Libby, Mt. mine owned by W.R. Grace & Co. was distributed to 269 sites across the country. The EPA notified the GAO that out of the 269 sites, 242 were visited by EPA officials.  Samples were then taken from 83 sites, with 10 sites determined in need of cleanup so far (including Hamilton). 

The GAO also reported that numbers and total tonnage figures may still change as they go through final clarifying information with the EPA and other officials.

In a related matter, Smith reported that The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the federal public health agency he pressed into service to help former employees who may have been exposed to asbestos at the plant, is moving ahead with plans to provide free health screenings this summer.  The screenings will include: health questionnaire/history; pulmonary test (breathing), chest X-ray and the opportunity to join the Libby Asbestos Tremolite Registry (TAR).

“The Hamilton site is the first site outside of the mine in Montana where the federal government is now working to provide free health screening for former employees of a W.R. Grace processing facility,” Smith said.  “I will continue to press every federal agency and local entity to do every thing they can to help those workers who may have been exposed to asbestos.”