The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

The Environmental Protection Agency declared a public health emergency in Libby, Montana on Wednesday due to the high risk of the population developing asbestos related illnesses including mesothelioma. Many people have already died and thousands more have become sickened from asbestos exposure received from the nearby vermiculite mine. The health emergency will apparently not require the evacuation of the entire town, but will gain Libby further federal funding for medical costs and cleanup. It will release $130 million for this endeavor.

The mine was run by W.R. Grace and closed in 1990. It had supplied nearly 70 percent of the vermiculite in the U.S. Vermiculite is used in many commercial products, such as soil conditioner, fireproof wallboard and other construction materials, and insulation. It expands when heated. Libby used vermiculite to cover their high school track, used it as mulch in their gardens, and miners regularly brought it into their homes on their clothes where their families were exposed.

Federal cleanup began in 2000 and it was declared a Superfund site in 2002. W.R. Grace settled a lawsuit last year and paid out $250 million to the government. However, the EPA believes that final cleanup and medical costs may run as high as $350 million. Three W.R. Grace executives were acquitted last month after being charged with knowingly exposing residents to asbestos-related diseases.

This release of millions of dollars is a good thing for the town, as they have waited years for the federal government to actively move on helping them. However, it is far too late for those who have died as well as those who are critically ill. Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, can take years to develop and the illness is particularly vile as the victim's lungs fill with fluid.

If you have developed mesothelioma or have been exposed to asbestos, you may be eligible for compensation. Please contact the experienced mesothelioma attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We serve clients nationwide.

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