CAG's future in Libby appears unclear

The Community Advisory Group, which has discussed Superfund-related issues at monthly meetings and operated as an Environmental Protection Agency watchdog for the past nine years, hasn’t convened since August and doesn’t have immediate plans for its next meeting.

Some members have given up on the entity and others are in favor of continuing as long as there is enough community interest – but support appears to be in short supply, according to e-mail correspondence between members.“Based on the lack of e-mail traffic,” said member Bill Patten,“it sure doesn’t seem like it’s a good future.” Patten, chief executive officer for St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, said he’s in favor of continuing monthly meetings, especially as the EPA moves forward on Records of Decision. However, he admits that like other members, he doesn’t have time to take the lead.“For me, personally, I will continue to be involved if others saw the value,” Patten said,“but I don’t have the time or the energy to be the flag bearer.” September’s meeting was canceled after only Mike Giesey, board president of the Center for Asbestos Related Disease, and temporary facilitator Virginia Tribe showed up.“We have some soul-searching to do and I've expressed my thoughts,” Giesey e-mailed members on Oct. 2.“… Next meeting will be time to decide how to continue with CAG, and maybe even if CAG should continue. It’s up to all of us.”
“Dissention was caused by the EPA and members of CAG,” said Orr, a Libby councilmember,“and I just don’t think you’ll ever bring them back together.” The EPA announced in February that it would no longer attend CAG meetings after its relationship with the group soured to a point where community involvement coordinator Ted Linnert and CAG members could no longer hold a civil discussion. The EPA agreed in July to hire Tribe, a professional facilitator out of Missoula, to lead a three-meeting series to reorganize the CAG into a more disciplined and efficient group that would attract higher public involvement and have civil discourse with EPA officials.“It wasn’t EPA’s intention to destroy the CAG,” said Victor Ketellapper, Libby team leader,“rather to see it function better. We put a lot of resources in helping reorganize the CAG. We hired a facilitator that people thought was really capable.” The first two meetings, in July and August, appeared to be positive steps forward, according to attendees, but the third meeting has yet to materialize.
The City of Libby joined the Lincoln County Health Board this summer to present a more unified voice to the EPA concerning asbestos-related health needs and cleanup, as well as a way to oversee resources obtained through public health emergency status. Patten believes that the City-County Health Board’s objective may differ from that of CAG.“If I had to guess, I think people are going to wait and see how the City-County Health Board plays out as the venue for people to express their opinions,” Patten said.“… My guess is that its focus will be different – the oversight of some resources.”“If issues like the RODs, if those discussions are finalized and there isn’t a venue like the CAG, I do think it will be a loss,” Patten said.

“I don’t see any reason to expend the energy toward CAG,” Orr said.

I saw that to.... Its just the evelotion of the process.

Dusty, coming from Mr. Chambers of Libby..evelotion in progress..man do you have your head on backwards.Most in Libby do.What I know you ment was "Evilotion in progress.Never stopped since 1963 when WR Grace came to town and turned Libby into a Death town and imployed all of you liars to continue to sell Libby and continue killing more people...all you invite into Libby.The CAG was fine till Libby was declared safe in 2001 and 17,000 was spent to advertise Libby as safe.At that point and even today,the lieing has not stopped and nor has killing more innocent people.Hope you all rot in hell.Nothing will change until Libby is rid of all the dirt.Too much dirt and Tremolite asbestos.Death Town no matter how or what YOU call it.Not safe.

...But Mike ... the $17000 got us Stinger. Money well spent ..dont you think? Wait to see what we do with the $75000 we get from the gov.

We already spent $10000.00 on the new web site.... what do you think?

http://www.libbychamber.org/