$6 million in healthcare is on the way for Libby, Montana residents suffering from asbestos diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos cancer.
Montana Senator Max Baucus recently announced that the funding will come in the form of a federal grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services. The money will go to the Lincoln County Health Department and three other health organizations for screenings and healthcare for people suffering from any asbestos disease.
The area is a federal Superfund site because of large scale asbestos contamination from the W.R. Grace vermiculite mine that was operated in the area for several decades. Asbestos victim advocates such as Sen. Baucus urge the Environmental Protection Agency to consider the situation in Libby a “public health emergency”. This designation would pave the way for even more federal money to help asbestos victims in the area.
News of the federal asbestos healthcare grant will likely be a ray of sunshine to a community that has been hit with astounding loss, disappointment, and death over the last decade.
Tags: asbestos, EPA, Libby Montana, mesothelioma, vermiculite, WR Grace
