High Plains Films Clip of the Week
Clip of the Week: ‘The Dust’ in Libby, Montana
Editor's Note: This marks the first installment of the High Plains Films clip of the week -- a new feature here at NewWest.Net. This month, as the W.R. Grace trial grinds on in Missoula (click here for coverage), the clips will come from the High Plains feature documentary Libby, Montana.
By Doug Hawes-Davis, 3-27-09
Click to play
In this short scene from our feature documentary, Libby, Montana, three former W.R. Grace employees talk about what it was like to work for the company in Libby. Les Skramstad worked in the mill only two years, but died of mesothelioma in 2007. Bob Wilkins was the local union rep for mine workers. He died of asbestos related disease in 2002. Dru Carr and I shot the interviews with Les and Bob in 2000. Earl Lovick was the plant manager for many years. His commentary here is from a videotaped deposition recorded during a civil case against WR Grace in the 1990s. Lovick died in 1996.
For more information about the film, trailers, audio downloads, external links, reviews, blogs and more please visit either the official site for the film at High Plains site here or on the PBS site here.
[End of article]This is an interesting case; it seems that the county or state health agencies should also share in the responsibility for the damage this mine caused to the empoyees health. The health agencies and probably OSHA are charged with insuring the safety and health risks to public employees and customers alike. I am not sure what year asbestos was discovered to be harmful to humans, but it certainly appears that this mine was operating long after that date. I think there is plenty of blame to go all around; i.e. the Grace co. and the governmental agencies charged with public health safety.
Of course, Grace filing bankruptcy is a classic corporate move to preserve assets, just as DuPont did during the breast implant controversy and subsequent lawsuits.
I certainly feel for the workers affected and their families as lung disease is a terrible malady.
But my own conscience begs the question of why didn't the newer employees become aware that over a span of thirty or more years, that the older mine site employees had a high incidence of lung problems. It is not possible to cover up the high incidence of employees with lung problems; that would certainly raise a red flag to me if I were a new hire into that mining operation. A little common sense also seems to be called for here.
Thank You
I was about 16 when I worked as a "sacker", holding the zonolite sack while the popped vermiculite filled it. I recall heavy dust in the air. There were no breathing masks or devices offered and I did a lot of coughing until the foreman advised me to seek other employment. The dust that I was inhaling interfered with the job and there was no stopping that feeding tube, so with all the coughing I was constantly behind. I don't think I worked there more than a few weeks. I also lived on Montana Avenue in Libby, where I experienced breathing the dust in and around our home. My dad used zonolite in the garden and also in the fireplace. He died prematurely. He chocked to death. But we didn't know what caused it at the time. I know that I was always out of breath, "short-winded". I spent my life compensating for my weakness. My mother was not affected, nor was my sister.
Comment By Mike Crill, 4-02-09The question needing asked is why are more people being allowed to move to Libby since 1999.And why has Libby continued to be sold as safe? And who is stopping this continued known deadly exposure?And who is responsible to those people/families who have moved to Libby being told/sold Libby is a safe place to live and raise a family.This is a deadly lie.There has recently been a man diagnosed with asbestosis who has moved to Libby 5 years ago.Who is responsible for killing this man? And over 300 people/families who also have moved to Libby to be exposed to suffer and die as the rest of us.Ask how is this allowed to continue?Where is OSHA and Baucus and Tester and where is the justice...Stay away from Libby Montana is what I say to all.This is what everyone needs to be saying...the truth.Thank you
Comment By Mike Crill, 4-02-09I worked with Bob Wilkins in the 70's filling grain cars, with deadly Vermiculite that got shipped all over the country.It was a pleasure to work and know Bob.When the truth was told in 1999, as victims we all became like family because we all had this in common to share with the others in Libby.Being workers of WR disGrace, some of us felt responsible for what we did and brought home.Not knowing wasn't good enough for what we did.I think many of us like Bob, felt this way as the truth unfolded.We are ALL victims and Bob and Les and Gayla and many others put the face on Libby for the world to see.And I know Bob and Les and my Dad/Uncle/Mom/father in law and all the others who didn't make it to their day in court ARE watching over us as we watch over them.The truth will be told and those in the wrong shall fall.And what becomes, will be better than before.Bob Wilkins was/is a beautiful human being and is missed by many.Best to the family of Bob and God Bless Doug and Dru for keeping the faces of Libby alive...forever...
Comment By Karen Michelsen, 4-03-09Asbestos levels in Libby’s air are low enough that they don’t pose a significant cancer risk, according to a two-year study presented at Monday’s town hall meeting by the Environmental Protection Agency.
“The levels are much, much, much lower than when the mine was operating years ago,” Libby Team Leader Victor Ketellapper said during the meeting.
The Libby Asbestos Site’s annual project update served to inform the public on the agency’s long-term site strategies, as well as to take questions and talk about what has been accomplished so far. Three representatives, including Ketellapper, from the EPA’s Region 8 headquarters in Denver, Colo., were on hand, as well as Catherine LeCours of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and Mike Cirian, the EPA’s onsite project manager.
The final draft of the results of Libby’s outdoor ambient air study was released Monday just in time for the meeting. The study took air samples from 18 locations in and around Libby, as well as additional reference samples in Helena and Eureka, from October 2006 to June 2008, to determine the levels of Libby amphibole.
Ketellapper told attendees that the risk of developing cancer from inhaling outdoor air in Libby is one in 1 million.
The EPA reported no statistically significant differences between Helena’s concentrations of Libby amphibole and Libby’s concentrations.
We are thrilled", says local area resident Kim Spencer. "Its been a long time coming , and I glad to see the efforts of the EPA pay off". Libby has been involved in a clean up effort by the EPA for the past 9 years. "its all winding down", Bill Beshep says. "We are glad its almost over".
Mike: I don’t think anyone would disagree that Asbestos, (especially from Libby), was bad. At the end of the day - we are still here. We are getting it cleaned up. We are raising our families. We are building our homes, schools, and churches. We are encouraging new development in Libby. We are working with employers to bring in more jobs for our community. We are purchasing good and services here. We are continuing to make our community better. We are Libby.
Do we have challenges - sure, every community does, but don’t think for a minute that anyone will throw in the towel and quite. We still live in the most stunning part of the world.
Continue on with your “I hate Libby - Stay away from Libby” hate message. Just like all divisive speak, it falls on deft ear’s. Carry your continued hatred, but don’t think that anyone is following you. Even old friends who know the messenger do not believe in the message. Someone suggested that you get help - I don’t think that would help - the hatred is burned too far down in you.
Libby has learned from its past. We will be a stronger community, we will not let the past define us.
Libby ain't learned squat, as the lies since 1963 continue, along with the human beings moving to Libby to carry on the pain and suffering till death by those selling Libby as safe.Denial is blind to the truth even when the truth is life and death and death is all around you.Sometimes it's better to be blind but not when it kills people.You would think, after 9 years and millions spent, something needs shown where the money spent.Not one dime spent on telling the truth.$17,000 spent on selling Libby in 2000.Who's the crazy one????Stay away from Libby Mt.Thank you
Comment By mike crill, 3-27-10And Libby today continues to kill innocent people...families and CHILDREN.And yes Libby IS a death town where the air is full of Tremolite and EVERYONE inhales deadly fibers EVERYDAY....And all you liars who sell Libby as safe....how bout baby killer as a brand that Libby diserves only because it is true.This is what you are doing to innocent people.You are killing them just like you killed me and my family. Same baby killers selling Libby today.I hope you all hang...I really do...bunch of baby killers.No children left behind and stay away from Libby. Not safe top anything that breathes...
This article was printed from www.newwest.net at the following URL: http://www.newwest.net/city/article/clip_of_the_week_the_dust_in_libby_montana/C8/L8/