"No Asbestos in ash" ???

This is a letter to the Editor of "The Western News" in response to the Article above. We'll see if they publish it! But we already know they won't - don't we? Another local newspaper said they won't publish it because they don't wish to get in a battle with The Western News! So where does Libby stand when it comes to getting accurate information??? Not our newspapers I suppose!
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March 16, 2010

Letter to the Editor:

The Friday, March 12, 2010 issue of The Western News headline article “No Asbestos in ash” written by Canda Harbaugh, is full of inaccuracies. In fact inaccurate to the point of being a lie!

No Asbestos in ash? Someone didn't do her homework!!! The Asbestos Bulk Sample Data Log and the Bulk Sample Analysis Summary, by Hygeia Laboratories, Inc., in Sierra Madre, California, dated March, 2, 2010, shows four of the 13 “ash” samples taken, with 2% Anthophylite Asbestos, two samples with <1% Anthophylite Asbestos, and one sample with <1% Chrysotile Asbestos. This is about a 50% positive detection ratio. Quite high if you ask me, and surely far from; "No Asbestos in Ash" as reported! This information was available in plenty of time for a savvy reporter to make her deadline. Additionally, a little research would have uncovered information that the community should know; That Anthophylite Asbestos is an Amphibole Asbestos as is LA (Libby Amphibole Asbestos)!

Further EPA Field Leader Mike Cirian, in the article, is quoted as saying; “Asbestos fibers tend to fall out fairly quickly in fires like that,”…“That’s what we’ve seen in some of our testing, as well.” A good question for a reporter would have been; What testing? So Mike, I’m asking you to provide me with the testing results that establish this conclusion and I ask for the sampling and testing models used for these purported tests. I’ve discussed this with a number of experts and each has said that the conclusion Mr. Cirian reached can not be stated authoratively and is stated without validity.

The article also states that Mr. Cirian explained “the microscopic asbestos fibers were probably widely dispersed in the fire, explaining why it wasn’t present in the ash samples.” But again, it is unquestionably in the ash samples as clearly shown in the Hygeia Laboratory, Inc. reports. So should we believe any comment made by the EPA or Mike Cirian?

I know for a fact that the lab report was in Mr. Cirian’s possession on March 9th, he showed it to me at the LATAG meeting, with witnesses present. Moreover, the explanation that; “Asbestos fibers tend to fall out fairly quickly…” should give the community an additional questions to ask; Did those microscopic fibers fall into my yard where my children play? How do I really know for sure? How do they plan to clean that up?

If you have further questions regarding this information go to http://www.eaglesvoice.com/ where a copy of the lab report and other information is available,email me at perquiaga@EaglesVoice.com,or give me a buzz at 406-293-2393.

Phillip Erquiaga


Reference:
The Western News
http://www.thewesternnews.com/articles/2010/03/16/news/doc4b9846bf61a22407957212.txt