BREAKING NEWS:

EPA announces a public health emergency at Libby Asbestos Superfund Site (6/17/2009)

THE LIBBY STORY

W.R. Grace operated a vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana from 1963 to 1990; it continued processing ore until 1992. Grace and its 61 U.S. subsidiaries and affiliates filed for bankruptcy in April 2001, claiming it could not afford the burden of asbestos-related lawsuits. The vermiculite, with uses that included insulation, was contaminated with a deadly form of asbestos known as tremolite. More than 200 people have died and an additional 1,200 Libby residents so far have been identified as having asbestos-related lung abnormalities as a result of being exposed to the asbestos from the mine. Libby’s population totals about 8,000 people. 

Grace and individuals who worked for the company are accused of knowingly endangering Grace employees and Libby community members by exposing them to the asbestos-contaminated vermiculite.  The trial began in February 2009.

• The Missoulian On-Line has a fabulous web site set up to follow the W.R. Grace trial in Missoula.  Find out background information on the town, the mine, the company, and asbestos.  The site also features multimedia: videos, slideshows, timelines, documents, and maps.  Read daily reports on the trial as it progresses.

• U of MT Journalism/Law Students Cover Trial in "Real Time" On Line

From The Missoulian On-Line:

"Worse than Three Mile Island and Love Canal combined." That’s how citizens in Libby describe the effects of W.R. Grace on their town. The company and five of its leaders are on trial in U.S. District Court in Missoula, accused of hiding the fact that asbestos unearthed from Grace’s vermiculite mine near Libby was killing the town’s residents. More than 200 people are dead and hundreds more ill, their lungs, in the words of one, turned to "solid concrete."

The criminal case has been four decades in the making. Federal charges were filed three years ago. The company is adamant it did nothing wrong; indeed, its officials—some of whom also suffered from asbestosis—said they were concerned about their employees and took steps to protect their health. The two sides have traded accusations and counterclaims for decades. Finally, a jury will weigh their merits.

As the trial begins, this site provides a comprehensive, multimedia look at Libby, the W.R. Grace mine, the health impacts and victims, and continuously updated coverage of the criminal case. In words, photographs, videos, slideshows, timelines and documents, this is the story of Libby, Montana. 

Read more background on Libby and the W.R. Grace vermiculite mine