After the disclosure of the Environmental Protection Agency’s close ties with a mining company in Butte, the EPA has recently declared a set of measures aimed at enhancing transparency and fostering better involvement with the community.
Some of the steps involve conducting public meetings more frequently, analyzing public health data to detect any possible deficiencies, and recruiting a community involvement coordinator to operate in Montana.
Last week, Montana Resources, the company responsible for operating the active copper and molybdenum mine in Butte, announced its commitment to financing research on the health effects caused by the dust emitted from the mine.
The announcements come in response to an InvestigateWest story published last month that uncovered how the EPA coordinated with Montana Resources to rebut independent, peer-reviewed research that suggested the mine may be causing a “potential public health emergency.”
The exchange of emails between the EPA and Montana Resources, initially disclosed by InvestigateWest, has sparked anger among certain residents who are worried about the mine’s effects on health and the EPA’s response to related inquiries. Derf Johnson, a policy advocate from Montana Environmental Information Center, commented that the mine has shown willingness to contribute to additional research since the story broke. On the other hand, he stated that the EPA is currently focused on managing the negative repercussions caused by the situation.
Johnson stated that the story was the final straw that intensified people’s suspicions regarding the town’s operations.
Last week, KC Becker, the regional administrator of the EPA, paid a visit to Butte. The purpose of her visit was to personally listen to the concerns and opinions of local officials and community members. One of the individuals she met with was Katie Hailer, a bioinorganic chemist at Montana Technical University. Hailer’s research had been the topic of email exchanges between the mine and EPA officials.
Becker stated in a statement that, during the visit, he and his staff received feedback from community members regarding the need for increased transparency. In response, they are taking necessary measures to enable the community to actively participate in decisions concerning the Superfund cleanup.
A message seeking comment on the meeting was not returned by Hailer.
The EPA has designated the Butte area as a Superfund site due to toxic waste left behind from past mining activities. Montana Resources and the Atlantic Richfield Company have been assigned the responsibility of remediation for this Superfund site. It is worth noting that Montana Resources also operates a nearby mine situated opposite a residential neighborhood in Butte. Over the years, residents have expressed concerns about the mine’s close proximity and the potential health consequences it could have.
The 2019 study, which discovered elevated levels of heavy metals in meconium samples from Butte, added to existing concerns. The researchers, Hailer and environmental epidemiologist Suzanne McDermott, acknowledged the limitations of their small and underfunded study but urged the EPA to conduct a larger-scale replication. However, rather than supporting the study, EPA officials attempted to discredit it and secretly encouraged Montana Resources to do the same, as revealed by InvestigateWest.
The EPA announced in a recent press release that it intends to enhance transparency regarding its ongoing Superfund cleanup initiatives in Butte. When questioned about the specific health data to be examined in Butte, EPA spokesperson Richard Mylott stated that it would encompass blood lead data, ongoing assessment of cancer rates, tumor registries, and other pertinent health studies. Moreover, any notable gaps pertaining to health concerns will also be taken into consideration.
Mylott stated that we will collaborate with partners and involve the community in our progress. We will also explore possibilities for gathering any necessary and suitable additional information.
However, the EPA stated that it lacks the power to finance research on the health effects associated with the present Montana Resources mine. When questioned about the possibility of the EPA funding further research related to the 2019 meconium study or investigating the impacts of the active mine, Mylott clarified that such authority lies within the jurisdiction of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
According to Johnson, the policy advocate, the EPA is being contradictory in their statements.
During an interview, Johnson pointed out the contradictory stance of the company, stating that while they claim no responsibility for the active mine, they are also actively attempting to undermine scientific evidence related to it.
The mine has announced its commitment to financially support research on those inquiries. Mark Thompson, the vice president for environmental affairs at Montana Resources, recently stated that he had proposed funding for studying the health impacts of mining dust. He even extended an invitation to Hailer to participate in the research.
According to InvestigateWest, Mylott stated that the EPA would be open to providing assistance if requested, but no such request has been made yet.
Johnson currently doubts the EPA’s commitment to transparency in the future despite its claims.
Johnson expressed satisfaction with their attention and seriousness towards the matter, emphasizing that the true measure of their commitment lies in their actions and follow-through.
InvestigateWest (invw.org) is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. Reach reporter Wilson Criscione at [email protected]. This reporting was supported in part by a grant from the Fund for Investigative Journalism.
