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Libby Asbestos Superfund Site
Libby, Montana 

Project Work Plan Outline – Fiscal Year 2008

Targeted Cleanups
 
1. Troy Priority Properties: The full scale assessment of properties in Troy began
in May 2007, with assessments being completed at 550 of the 1,198 properties
targeted. As a result of the property screenings, the Montana Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) identified fifteen properties that required some immediate intervention to
mitigate exposures to Libby Amphibole Asbestos (LA). Of these properties, six
warranted prioritized, full-scale cleanup. EPA is not yet ready to begin the
wholesale remediation of properties in Troy. However, at these six properties, the
LA exposures, combined with the condition of the properties themselves, present
clear risks above properties currently being cleaned in Libby. Therefore, these
properties will be added to the FY 2008 clean up project. 

2. Libby Property Cleanups: EPA will continue the cleanup of residential and
commercial properties in the existing queue of properties meeting our current
Removal Action Criteria. In 2007, there was a substantial increase in the average
size of the properties being cleaned. Thus, the total number of properties cleaned
in the year dropped from 216 in 2006 to 160 in 2007. EPA expects this trend to
continue. Therefore, we are targeting 160 properties to be cleaned in 2008: 6 in
Troy, and 154 in Libby. 

3. Flower Creek: EPA investigations have delineated six sections of Flower Creek,
all upstream of the Balsam Avenue crossing, that contain significant deposits of
LA-bearing rip-rap. EPA intends to remove this material and restore the Creek.
This work will begin later in summer to allow the action to happen when stream
flow is at its lowest level.

Pending Cleanups
 
1. Additional Residential/Commercial Properties: If our resources allow, EPA will have designs ready to add 10 to 20 properties to the FY 2008 cleanup. ⁽¹⁾

2. Additional Creeks: EPA has identified LA-bearing materials in Granite and
Callahan Creeks. Initial investigations indicate the presence of this material is not
as extensive as is found along Flower Creek. Warning signs have been posted
along the creeks, and EPA will complete more thorough investigations of the 2
creeks in summer of 2008. Once these investigations are complete, EPA will
reassess the prioritization of the cleanup of Granite and Callahan Creek.

3. CVCC Golf Course: EPA has found contamination on the original nine holes of
the CVCC Golf Course. The contamination appears to result from the use of
vermiculite in the construction of the greens and tee boxes. The contamination at
CVCC, like those at other commercial properties in Libby, meets the current Site
Removal Criteria. However, the CVCC golf course will be a much larger project,
with a more exacting set of restoration requirements. Based on input from the
community over the last few months, this project was deemed a lower priority
than the on-going residential cleanups. EPA will complete a design and
restoration plan for this property this year, and revisit its prioritization in FY-
2009.

Investigation Projects 

1. Ambient Air Sampling: Now that we have over a year of ambient air sampling
data, EPA will begin phasing out the stationary air samplers in and around
downtown Libby. However, we will continue monitoring around the former
processing areas and the mine, the rail line, and the Highway 37 and 2 corridors. 

2. Indoor/Outdoor Activity Based Sampling: This work began in July 2007. It is
designed to assess the exposure to LA during routine activities in and around
various Libby properties. The properties include those that need no cleanup
(based on our current Removal Criteria), those with a cleanup pending, and those
that have already received an EPA cleanup. The sampling covers a full year (to
capture seasonal variations) and is on schedule to be completed by summer 2008. 

3. Mine: Work to delineate the nature and extent of contamination at the former
vermiculite mine began last year and will continue throughout 2008. The work is
being funded byW.R. Grace under an Administrative Order with EPA. 

4. Former Processing Areas: EPA has completed sampling work at the former
Export Plant and investigations at the former Stimson Mill will be completed in
spring of 2008. EPA also anticipates delineating the contamination along the
Burlington Northern/Santa Fe (BNSF) rail line and any remaining contamination
along the Kootenai Bluffs, which is associated with the former Screening Plant. 

5. Troy: DEQ, through a cooperative agreement with EPA, initiated the screening
of properties in Troy for LA in May 2007. It is anticipated that this planned twoyear
effort will be completed on schedule in the summer of 2008. 

6. Libby: EPA screened all of the area creeks for LA-bearing materials in 2007.
However, only Flower Creek (based on the initial screening) received an
extensive inspection. EPA plans to conduct a more thorough investigation of all
of the creeks in the area, looking for potential LA-bearing rip-rap. EPA also plans
to conduct some follow up sampling in the Libby-area schools.

⁽¹⁾  Revised 01/03/2008 per EPA

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