Mesothelioma and Asbestos

As part of the cleanup effort in Libby, Montana, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been removing asbestos-contaminated soil from local properties as well as replacing it with uncluttered soil, but it appears they may possess made a mistake. Seven yards were filled with soil from a site the EPA had used as well as tested many times, but the batch used to fill these seven yards may possess been contaminated with asbestos.

EPA policy is to test each batch before it goes out, but the go-ahead was given before the test results returned. Testing involves sampling from 30 dissimilar points of a batch of topsoil about 3,000 cubic yards in size. The soil used in the seven yards in question came back with trace amounts after post-installation testing. The EPA will redo all of the previously cleaned yards that test positive for asbestos, even for trace amounts.

For the filled story, go to The Western News.