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Senator gets firsthand look at school Posted: Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 - 10:20:54 am MDT By Brad Fuqua The Western News
On a mission to get firsthand information about Asa Wood Elementary School’s asbestos problems, U.S. Sen. Max Baucus visited Libby on Friday for a short tour with school board members. Baucus wanted to be well-versed on the situation in what he called an aggressive and passionate push for funding a new school.“I believe 80 percent of life is showing up,” Baucus said after his tour. “So, I show up at the school and I can learn more about it ... know what’s going on and get a much better sense of it.” Earlier this year, tremolite asbestos was found in the roof, ceiling and walls of Asa Elementary, which is currently housing classes for kindergarten through the third grade. The higher elementary grades were moved to the middle school. The Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved $3 million in funding for education and health projects across the state. Included in that amount is $400,000 to the Libby School District to help fund academic curricula and equipment while the district builds a new school. Another $200,000 went to the Center for Asbestos Related Disease to help expand research into treatment and cures for diseases caused by exposure to asbestos. The money earmarked for the school will not be used for construction, but is designed to free up money that ultimately helps with construction. Baucus said his next move is to try to get more money in an appropriations bill next year to help with the school. “I think it’s about a $12 million request. It’s really set in the foundation for next year,” he said. “I’m talking to members and saying, ‘hey, we’re going to come back next year and get a school here.’ If I start early, it’s going to help. It’s part of the ongoing effort here in Libby.” After the snow removal accident earlier this year that led to the discovery of the asbestos, the Environmental Protection Agency will be back to do more testing. “If the tests are positive, that means there are airborne fibers, then the school board’s got to decide whether the new school is necessary,” Baucus said. “And if the new school is necessary, I’m going to do all I can to find the resources.” Maki said testing inside and outside has been done in the past. “We’re going to start that process again,” he said. “Here this last month or two, we’ve been going through the process. And then there will be indoor testing starting this September.” Baucus is pushing the EPA for a toxicity study to determine standards for the testing. He also would like to see Libby declared a public health emergency. “It was stopped by the White House, the Office of Management and Budget,” he said. “I think they feared the consequences. One of the consequences would be that the EPA would be forced to clean up products ... which include insulation, attics, cinder blocks and so forth. And further, it would require the government to find compensation for the health effects of asbestos.” Baucus, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee that has jurisdiction over the EPA, said Superfund laws are interpreted as requiring the clean-up of waste, but not products. The cinder blocks that are part of the school, for example, are products. W.R. Grace owned and operated a vermiculite mine in Libby until 1990. Since the mine closed, hundreds of Libby residents have gotten sick and died from exposure to asbestos. Following Baucus’ short tour of the school, he continued on to Fireman’s Park for one of his “Burger Bonanza” events. He has visited Libby more than 20 times.
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The Western News
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