The Environmental Protection Agency has declared a public health emergency in and around Libby, Montana. The announcement was made on Wednesday. Libby is the site of a former mining operation run by W. R. Grace & Co. Grace ran the mine for decades, and extracted asbestos-laced vermiculite that it used to create various products. The asbestos has since contaminated the surrounding area, leaving hundreds dead and many more ill from asbestos-related disease.

An EPA spokesperson informed members of the press that the Lincoln County Health Clinic would be receiving $6 million from the Department of Health and Human Services. The money will be used to provide health care to Libby residents. Libby residents have succumbed to various asbestos-related incidents over the years, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. In addition, EPA agents will remove vermiculite from local buildings, where the substance is used as insulation. According to the EPA spokesperson, it is not known how many homes across America contain asbestos-contaminated vermiculite, but estimates place that number in the tens of millions.

The vermiculite mine in Libby was originally operated by the Zonolite Company. The mine was so vast that at one time in US history; it was the source of 80 percent of all vermiculite insulation in America. W. R. Grace later purchased the mine in 1963, and closed it down in 1990.

Grace recently faced intense scrutiny during a nationally publicized trial, where the company faced charges of knowingly endangering the lives of Libby residents, conspiracy, and violations of the federal Clean Air Act. Grace and all former executives charged in the case were acquitted. In 2008, Grace agreed to pay the federal government $250 million for cleanup efforts in Libby.

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