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Volpe Center Highlights - November/December 2005

Environmental Stewardship

Director's Notes | Focus | Safety | Mobility | Environmental Stewardship
Security | Organizational Excellence | Awards | Published and Presented

Volpe Center Oversees Removal of Contaminated Rail Track (EPA)

Processing plants located in EPA Region 8 and Region 9 received asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana. The Volpe Center has provided removal assessment and remediation oversight in Libby and other sites.

Adverse health effects in Libby, Montana, are associated with asbestos contamination from the former W.R. Grace vermiculite mine located approximately five miles from town. For more than 60 years until the mine closed in 1990, contaminated vermiculite was mined at Libby and shipped to locations throughout the country. For the past four years, in support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Volpe Center has performed environmental analyses and assessments at more than 3,500 locations in the Libby area, and directed contractors in the cleanup of more than 550 commercial and residential properties. In addition, the Volpe Center has provided removal assessment and remediation support at "sister sites" that received shipments of vermiculite from Libby.

Mined vermiculite was transported in bulk rail shipments from Libby to approximately 122 processing plants in the United States. One such sister site is in Denver, Colorado, where the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad was ordered by EPA to remove a track structure that had been contaminated with asbestos during unloading of vermiculite shipments from Libby. EPA requested that Mr. Paul Kudarauskas of the Volpe Center's Environmental Engineering Division perform the required federal government oversight of this remedial action during August and September 2005. The remediation included removal of 1,250 feet of rail, ties, and ballast as well as 3,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil within BNSF's property boundaries. Mr. Kudarauskas ensured that the contractor performed the scope of work and followed their health and safety plan as approved by EPA. (See "Awards" for a related story.)

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