Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Asbestos-containing vermiculite from W.R. Grace's Libby, Montana mine continues to dog the company, already facing numerous lawsuits for careless business practices. A $500,000 cleanup of asbestos-contaminated soil at the old Big Tex site south of downtown San Antonio has begun. More than 100,000 tons of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite ore from the Libby mine was processed at the site. Asbestos, a known carcinogen, causes mesothelioma, a terminal form of lung cancer. Federal crews are in the process of scraping off the top six inches of soil in contaminated areas and will remove asbestos from two contaminated buildings on the site. Removal of asbestos, which is hazardous, requires careful adherence to safety procedures to avoid inhalation of toxic fibers. EPA crews wear respiratory gear and other HAZMAT protection. Asbestos contamination has stood in the way of redevelopment at this and other sites for many years. The cleanup is expected to cost the EPA about $500,000. For more information go to MySanAntonio.com.