The EPA has been working in Libby since 1999 when an Emergency Response Team investigated local concern about asbestos-contaminated vermiculite. Since that time, the area has been designated a "Superfund Cleanup Site" and the EPA has been working to clean up contamination and reduce risks to human health.

One of the ways communities can participate in site cleanup decisions is by forming a Community Advisory Group (CAG). A CAG is made up of a diverse collection of community representatives. Its purpose is to provide a public forum for community members to present and discuss their needs and concerns related to the Superfund decision-making process. The EPA does not control the way each CAG is formed or the topics it discusses.

A CAG is a committee, task force, or board made up of people affected by a hazardous waste site or other environmental problems. Forming a CAG is one of the most effective ways community members can help decide how to clean up the site or deal with other environmental issues. The Group provides a public forum where community members can discuss their concerns about the site.

A CAG can assist the EPA in making better decisions on how to clean up a site. It offers the EPA a unique opportunity to hear and seriously consider community preferences for site cleanup and remediation. The existence of a CAG does not eliminate the need for the Agency to keep the community informed about plans and decisions throughout the Superfund process.

Libby has had a CAG for many years. In the first few years of the cleanup effort, the CAG was composed of a diverse mix of community members representing a wide variety of business sectors and community organizations. Of late, attendance at the CAG has sharply declined and the diversity of the group has become limited.

The current members of the CAG are concerned that the group may not be meeting the community's needs. This survey has been developed in an effort to gauge the community's knowledge about the CAG and to determine what changes local residents would like to see in the scope and mission of this committee.

Unless you desire more information about the CAG, this survey is completely anonymous. Please take a few minutes and complete the survey. Encourage your friends and neighbors to complete it as well!

Sincerely,
The Libby Community Advisory Group