$250M Settlement Reached

A settlement was recently reached in the case against W.R. Grace for the asbestos issues that have been plaguing the town of Libby, Montana.
The chemical company filed for bankruptcy in 2001 because of asbestos claims and has reportedly agreed to pay the government $250 million.
Highest Asbestos Settlement in History
The Department of Justice claims that the settlement is the highest in the Superfund programs history.
The money from the settlement is meant to reimburse the federal government accrued costs from the investigation and the cleanup that has been ongoing at the contaminated mining sites in Libby.
Community Faces Asbestos Problems
Since 2000, the DOJ has been working to remove soil is infested with asbestos in the small mining town.
According to reports, the federal government filed a suit against W.R. Grace in 2001 to help cover the cleanup costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
In 2003, the district court gave the EPA over $54 million for the cleanup costs needed for that year.
During this time, the company went bankrupt and those costs never got paid.
As a result, officials hope that this week’s settlement will cover cleanup costs for the future of the contaminated schools, homes and businesses in the town.

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