STATEMENT OF MARIANNE HORINKO
ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR
OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND
PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE ON
SUPERFUND, TOXICS, RISK AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
UNITED STATES SENATE
June 20, 2002
Good morning. I am pleased to appear today to address the cleanup of asbestos
contamination in Libby, Montana, and the Agency=s efforts to identify other sites nationwide that received vermiculite
from Libby. EPA views the Libby
asbestos site as one of the most significant Superfund sites nationally, and
the Agency is committed to working with our state and federal partners to take
all steps necessary to protect human health and the environment in Libby and
related sites.
Background
Libby is a small town of about 2,600
residents in northwest Montana.
Approximately 10,000 more people live in about 2000 homes located in the
surrounding valley. Between 1924 and
1991, a vermiculite mine owned originally by the Zonolite Corporation and purchased
by W.R. Grace in 1963, was one of Libby=s largest employers. The
now-closed vermiculite mine once produced a large proportion of the world=s vermiculite - with an estimated output of
more than 5 million tons from 1963 to 1990.
The processed vermiculite ore mined in Libby has been used as a soil
conditioner and in the manufacture of insulation, packaging and other
materials.
Over the years it operated, the mine and
related facilities employed a total of about 2000 workers in Libby. The ore was milled and beneficiated (partly
cleaned of impurities) on the mine property.
After milling, the ore was transported to a screening plant at which the
ore was graded prior to shipment by railroad to other processing plants around
the country. It also went to one of two
processing plants which operated in Libby during different periods in the mine=s history, prior to bagging for shipment.
One of the impurities in the vermiculite ore
was asbestos. Contamination resulting
from operation of the mine and related processing facilities has led to serious
public health impacts among members of the Libby community. Asbestos health effects include malignant
mesothelioma, an incurable and often fatal cancer of the chest cavity which in
many cases is associated with asbestos exposure. Further, asbestos exposure is associated with an increased risk
of all lung cancers, particularly when combined with smoking. Asbestos exposure can also cause asbestosis,
a debilitating respiratory illness caused by progressive scarring of the lung
tissue that can also be fatal.
Investigations and Cleanup Related to Libby
Asbestos
EPA is working closely with our federal
partners to address the asbestos contamination and related public health
concerns in Libby and other communities across the country. EPA, the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) have
mobilized an emergency response team to work in Libby. Coordinating closely with the community, the
team conducted inspections of the former mine and processing facility,
interviewed local physicians, and collected environmental samples to determine
the need for environmental clean up.
The team discovered significantly elevated incidence of asbestos-related
disease in Libby, as well as evidence of asbestos contamination in several
areas within the town.
EPA is currently taking action under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or
Superfund) to protect human health and the environment in Libby. W.R. Grace, an owner and operator of the
vermiculite mine and facilities, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in
late 2000. The United States continues to pursue reimbursement for Superfund
activities through action in the Montana Federal District Court.
Medical Investigations
In November 1999, ATSDR and the PHS undertook
medical investigations in Libby to determine the magnitude of asbestos-related
health impacts in the community. These
investigations, which were requested and funded by EPA, consisted of a
morbidity/mortality study, development of a formal epidemiological case series,
and health screening.
The mortality study for the period 1978-1998
showed that mortality in the Libby community from asbestosis was approximately
40-60 times higher than expected for such a community. ATSDR conducted health screening of roughly
6,200 individuals, including former workers, family members of workers and
current and former residents of Libby.
Preliminary results of the health screening of these groups showed up to
18% with lung abnormalities.
Significantly, more than half of this sample were not former W.R. Grace
workers or their family members. In
short, all of the medical investigations documented evidence of wide-spread
disease and mortality resulting from exposure to asbestos.
Environmental Investigations and Cleanup
EPA initiated a Superfund emergency
investigation and cleanup actions in Libby.
The initial investigations focused on the mine and processing areas,
residences, parks and schools. From
December 1999 though April 2002, EPA collected more than 5,000 samples and
conducted interviews to characterize the extent and severity of asbestos contamination
in and around the town of Libby.
Preliminary results showed that high amounts of asbestos-contaminated
vermiculite remained at the mine, the mine road, processing areas, the mine
tailings pile/pond, and in residential and shared community areas.
In June of 2000, EPA initiated and oversaw
cleanup actions at two former processing areas to address the worst asbestos
contamination. EPA has since started
cleanup actions at the mine road, the
high school track and city park facilities where vermiculite ore
tailings were found. Cleanup has also
started at several residences where piles of vermiculite or contaminated
equipment from the mine were found.
More cleanups are planned to address elevated levels of asbestos, both
at mining facilities and in the community.
Federal agencies have maintained a program of
early and meaningful outreach and coordination with the Libby community. This has included meeting frequently with
the Libby Community Advisory Group, maintaining a storefront office in an accessible
downtown location and frequent one-on-one communication with concerned Libby
residents.
On May 9, 2002, EPA approved a new Action
Memorandum Amendment for the Libby Asbestos site, authorizing additional work
at known locations and sources, including certain residential contamination in homes associated with vermiculite
insulation.
EPA determined
that it was appropriate to address the insulation in Libby based upon the
unique circumstances in Libby. EPA has
determined that this material does fall within our response authorities, as
detailed in the Agency=s Action Memorandum Amendment of May 2002. In
addition to the level of known cumulative exposure and multiple pathways, EPA
determined that the remaining asbestos releases in Libby would not have been
addressed by any other authority in a timely manner.
EPA has made progress with residential
cleanup in Libby. We have resumed the
removal of vermiculite ores and mining wastes from residential yards. We are starting to address two homes with
elevated amphibole asbestos concentrations in interior dusts. EPA expects to begin the removal of vermiculite
insulation from homes within one week.
There are currently 55 properties on the Apriority list@ for
clean up. These are properties that
have high levels of amphibole asbestos in their yards, plus either vermiculite
insulation or interior contamination as well.
EPA expects to complete the response at these 55 properties this summer.
In support of these activities, EPA is
completing designs, plans, and contracts to construct an asbestos cell at the
Lincoln County Landfill. This will
create a permanent disposal location for the vermiculite insulation, and
facilitate year round operations.
Region 8 should begin construction in mid-July.
Work is also completing clean up and
restoration actions already underway.
EPA expects to finish the restoration of the High School, Middle School,
Screening Plant, Export Plant and remove the remaining contamination at the
KDC-Flyway this season.
EPA has committed more than $60 million in
fiscal years 2000 through 2002 for environmental investigations, cleanup
actions and medical investigations in Libby.
Current estimates place fiscal year 2003 needs at approximately $21
million. These future funding need
projections are based upon assumptions about the number of homes or additional
properties which may require clean up, and may be subject to significant
revision as field work progresses.
The ongoing work of EPA and our partners will
help determine how best to complete the long-term remediation in Libby. To date, site investigation and cleanup activities
have taken place under Superfund emergency or Aremoval@ authorities. Given the widespread contamination and public health concerns in
Libby, the Governor of the State of Montana designated the Libby site as the
State=s one-time, top priority site for
cleanup. In response, EPA listed the
Libby site on the Superfund=s National Priorities List (NPL) of contaminated sites. EPA is committed to working with our
partners to see that all necessary actions are taken to protect public health
in the Libby community.
EPA Investigations and Cleanup Outside of
Libby
While EPA is currently taking action under
Superfund to protect human health and the environment in Libby, the Agency is
working with ATSDR to study other locations across the country where
vermiculite ore from the Libby mine was shipped for processing.
Between 1924 and 1991, the Libby mine
produced much of the world=s supply of vermiculite. EPA
identified 240 locations across the U.S. that may have received Libby
vermiculite for processing and distribution.
Of these locations, EPA determined that 22 require further investigation
by the Agency. When it appears that
another agency may need to be involved, EPA shares its findings with other
federal or state agencies so that they can determine if additional follow-up is
warranted.
One notable example of a situation warranting
a federal / state agency approach is the significant asbestos contamination at
the Western Minerals site in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Western Minerals operated as a vermiculite processing facility
from 1937 until 1989. Between 1964 and
1989, Western Minerals is estimated to have processed more than 118,000 tons of
vermiculite ore from the Libby, Montana mine.
The waste material generated during the processing of vermiculite was
made available to the public for use as fill material for driveways and
yards. Since September of 2000, EPA and
the State have been sampling and removing asbestos contamination at the former
plant site and nearby residential yards.
EPA and the Minnesota Department of Health (MNDOH) have received many
reports of asbestos-related disease in residents who have lived in the
predominantly residential area surrounding the facility. An ATSDR-funded survey is being conducted by
the MNDOH to determine the health impacts in former workers and nearby
residents at the Western Minerals site.
ATSDR is currently working with state health
departments to conduct or initiate reviews of health statistics for
asbestos-related disease in areas of former vermiculite processing facilities
across the country. EPA will continue
to coordinate with ATSDR on this effort to identify any additional locations
that may require environmental sampling or cleanup.
Response to Inspector General Report
On March 31, 2001, the EPA Office of
Inspector General (IG) issued a report titled, AEPA=s Actions Concerning Asbestos-Contaminated
Vermiculite in Libby, Montana.@ The IG report focused on EPA=s role in addressing asbestos contamination
in Libby, as well as EPA=s role in regulating asbestos.
The IG report concludes that EPA=s activities in Libby should continue, and emphasizes the importance of
addressing potential asbestos contamination concerns associated with mining and
other operations unrelated to Libby.
EPA is coordinating closely with
the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and ATSDR to identify additional asbestos-contaminated
sites associated with Libby or otherwise identified that may require cleanup
actions under Superfund.
Conclusion
EPA will continue to work closely with our
federal and state partners to take the steps necessary to protect the public
health of the residents of Libby, Montana, as well as the health of communities
outside of Montana that have been affected by Libby asbestos.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss cleanup issues associated with asbestos in vermiculite ore from Libby, Montana.