As I'm sure you know, the Environmental Protection Agency is very important to my state. And, for the most part, I think the EPA has done a good job partnering with the people in Montana. I'd like to continue that trend with the present administration. My number one concern, of course, is the health and safety of the people of my state and the nation. And that concern goes hand in hand with protecting our environment.
Our industrial history has left Montana with a legacy of contamination, from acid mine drainage to asbestos. The clean-up of Montana's sites has been a tremendous financial and technological challenge, costing hundreds of millions of dollars. We've had some terrible tragedies as well. Hundreds of people in Libby, Montana have become sick or died because of their exposure to asbestos. This asbestos originated at a vermiculite mine nearby. Workers brought the dust home on their clothes, mine waste was used at the local high school track. Per capita, more people have been diagnosed with asbestos related diseases in Libby than anywhere else in the country. In short, Libby, Montana has become one of the worst industrial disasters in the history of the nation.
It's my top priority to ensure the residents of Libby get the help they need to make their homes and community safe for them, their children and their grandchildren. And, to make sure that this type of disaster never happens again in this country. I want the EPA to be able to effectively protect people from the hazards of asbestos, and other toxic substances.
EPA is currently conducting assessments of the indoor air levels of asbestos in Libby homes, many of which have asbestos insulation that originated at the Libby mine. I encourage EPA to thoroughly investigate the potential danger posed by this type of asbestos insulation in homes. Libby residents, and people from across the country who have homes insulated with same type of asbestos, are understandably concerned that their insulation may be increasing their exposure to harmful asbestos fibers. I will be very interested to see the results of EPA's assessments, and to discuss further with the agency the potential impacts of those results, both on public health and on possible removal efforts.
I know not all of the nominees here today are involved in this issue, but I wanted to stress its importance to me and my state, and the nation. I will be interested to hear your views on this subject, and others, such as pesticide harmonization and natural resource damages. I thank you for your time, and I look forward to working with all of you if you are confirmed.