Who is conducting the Community medical testing / exposure assessment that will be done in Libby and when will it begin?
A. EPA and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have begun to jointly design the testing and assessment. In the coming months, these federal agencies will work closely with the Montana Departments of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Lincoln County Environmental Health Department. Working with the State and local government agencies will help ensure that the program remains successfully in place over the years. EPA has requested W.R. Grace to fund portions of the testing and assessment program but will not allow Grace to design, conduct or participate in any part of the studies. In March EPA and ATSDR will begin initial phone calls and outreach to encourage people in Libby to participate. The testing and assessment is targeted to begin in late April 2000.
