Summary
EPA announces a final opportunity for owners of residential and commercial property in Libby and Troy, Montana to participate in the investigation and cleanup of Libby Amphibole asbestos.
Property owners who have not yet participated in an investigation and/or cleanup need to sign access agreements by March 31, 2017. Access agreements have been mailed to property owners and are available at EPA’s Information Center in Libby, 108 E. 9th Street, phone (406) 293‑6194.
Property owners should also be aware that EPA and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) have to consider the protection of future residents from possible exposures. Property owners who do not participate could become financially responsible for future cleanup. The agency may file a notice of environmental conditions with the Clerk and Recorders Office of Lincoln County for properties within the Superfund site that have not participated in EPA’s program. This property notice would be recorded and maintained by Lincoln County and the State of Montana to inform future potential owners, lenders and renters that cleanup work at the property has not been completed.
EPA plans to schedule investigations as access agreements are received. We expect to schedule all cleanups by July 1, 2017. Depending on the response by property owners, EPA could complete all investigations and cleanups by the end of 2017. EPA will continue to have a presence in the community until residential cleanup is considered complete. We may move the Libby Information Center to a smaller office in spring 2018.
The Administrative Record containing all documents that support EPA’s cleanup is available at the libraries in Libby and Troy.
For more information, please contact:
EPA:
Jennifer Harrison (harrison.jennifer@epa.gov)
Community Involvement Coordinator
800‑227-8917 ext. 312-6813
MDEQ:
Jeni Flatow (jflatow@mt.gov)
Public Information Officer
406-444-6422
For more information about the Libby Asbestos Superfund site, visit www.epa.gov/superfund/libby-asbestos.