Health and Human Services Secretary will visit Libby

WASHINGTON (AP) - Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt will visit Libby, Mont., March 10, Sen. Max Baucus said Tuesday.

Baucus, D-Mont., said that Leavitt will discuss options for providing health care to Libby residents exposed to asbestos. Asbestos released into the air from the now-closed W.R. Grace and Co. vermiculite mine in Libby is blamed by some health authorities for killing about 200 people and sickening one of every eight residents there.

"I want Gov. Leavitt to see with his own eyes what these folks are going through," Baucus said.

This will be Leavitt's second trip to the town. He traveled to Montana in 2004 when he was administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Baucus asked Leavitt to return to Libby during the secretary's confirmation hearings last year.

The meeting will take place at 2:30 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room at Libby City Hall.



Not Yet Rated


Untitled Document Please login to enter comment :
*Member ID:
*Password:
  Forgot Your Password?
 

Click here to register
Reader Comments:


Text Size:
Small | Medium | Large

View/Post Comments
 Email this story
  Print this story
 Rate Article
 Share Article

submit to reddit Delicious Digg!