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Nightline Focuses on Cities at Risk for Asbestos Shipments

Many in Danger of Asbestos Epidemic as Members of Congress Work to Shield Corporations at Fault

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Last week (Nov. 3 & Nov. 4), ABC Nightline news aired a very important story about the asbestos epidemic in Libby, Montana, site of the W.R. Grace mine, and the ways in which the poisonous mineral affects not only this grief-stricken mountain town, but also many other cities throughout the United States.

The story focused on asbestos victims in Libby and how officials at the W.R. Grace company, who now face criminal charges, knowingly exposed millions of people to dangerous tremolite asbestos particles and were involved in a massive cover up. Hundreds have perished in Libby from asbestos-caused diseases including asbestosis and mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos. Thousands more die each year in areas across the country from this very SAME asbestos. Thousands of tons of asbestos were shipped from Libby to multiple cities in almost every state across the country.

Susan Vento, Chair of the Committee to Protect Mesothelioma Victims, among the hundreds of asbestos victims in the organization, is concerned that some members of Congress are trying to pass legislation, expected to come up in early 2006, that would provide special treatment for victims in Libby, Montana, while thousands of others face the possibility of little to no compensation if the legislation is passed.

"While those living in Libby, Montana have faced extreme tragedy, they have stuck together in their time of grief to fight for fair treatment for asbestos victims. However, under the asbestos trust fund bill Congress has chosen to exempt only those victims living in Libby, Montana, while leaving victims exposed to the same asbestos in other cities out in the cold."

Vento knows well the story of those living in Libby, Montana and others across the country afflicted by mesothelioma. Her husband, the late Minnesota Congressman, Bruce Vento, died of mesothelioma in 2000.

"The asbestos trust fund bill, S. 852, would take away victims' rights to fair treatment while providing a windfall for the very companies, like W.R. Grace, who have knowingly poisoned thousands of workers and their families, taking their lives and livelihood. By making a special exception for asbestos victims in Libby, Montana, Congress has made clear that this bill is unfair to ALL other victims," says Vento.

The asbestos trust fund bill is expected to come up in Congress as one of the first pieces of legislation in 2006. Despite the many problems with the bill, asbestos manufacturers and their insurers continue to push for this unfair legislation.

To see the Nightline story visit http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/. To find out more about the asbestos hot spots across the U.S. visit http://www.ewg.org/issues/asbestos/20050426/hotspots.php. For more information about asbestos and the trust fund bill visit http://www.asbestostruth.org.

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Committee to Protect Mesothelioma Victims

The Committee to Protect Mesothelioma Victims (CPMV) is an organization founded by asbestos victims and their families and friends. CPMV works to raise awareness on national asbestos issues and ensure that victims' rights are properly represented and protected on both a local and national level. For more information visit http://www.asbestostruth.org.

Contact: Mollie Turner for the Committee to Protect Mesothelioma Victims, 202-448-3147 or mturner@directoutreach.com; Web: http://www.asbestostruth.org

State suing Windham company over asbestos

December 26, 2005 - CONCORD, N.H. --The state has sued a Windham construction company it says may have contaminated the site of the former Benson's Wild Animal Farm in Hudson with asbestos.

According to court records, George R. Cairns and Sons was hired to restore the wetlands at the former theme park. But state officials say the company either used contaminated soil from elsewhere, or failed to inspect the existing soil before doing the work.

Glenn Cairns, the company's vice president, denies the company is responsible. He says the contamination was only discovered about a year after his company completed the restoration work.

"We don't believe we brought any asbestos onto the site," Cairns said.

According to court records, the company says state workers oversaw the restoration project and had the same opportunities to notice problems, but did not. It also says inspecting the soil for contaminants wasn't part of its contract.

The company has argued that the soil likely was contaminated before it began work at the site.

The state wants the company to remove the asbestos, then restore the wetlands.

"As a result of the defendant's negligence, approximately four acres of the Benson's site ... are contaminated with asbestos, which now must be removed, disposed and reconstructed," the lawsuit says.

Department of Transportation Commissioner Carol Murray, whose agency brought the lawsuit, said the contamination isn't a public health risk at the moment. The legal wrangling, however, has delayed the town's plans to convert the land into a recreational area.