Vermont Asbestos Group Mine Health Study

The public meetings in Eden and Lowell, which were originally cancelled due to weather concerns, have been rescheduled:

Monday, January 12, 2009
6:30 p.m., Eden Central School

Tuesday, January 13, 2009
6:30 p.m., Lowell Graded School

For more information, contact:
Department of Health at 802-863-7281, or
Agency of Natural Resources at 802-241-1562.

The Health Department has updated its health study and the revised report and questions & answers about the report are available below.

Background
News
Health Study and Related Information - Updated 12/09/08
For the Medical Community

Map of Towns near the Mine Site (pdf)

Background

About the Mine

The Vermont Asbestos Group Mine site is an inactive asbestos mine and mill which operated beginning in the early 1900’s and closed in 1993. The mine site comprises 1540 acres on private lands on Belvidere Mountain within the towns of Eden and Lowell, Vermont. The asbestos ore was mined from open pits producing chrysotile “white” asbestos. The Vermont Asbestos Group or “VAG” was one of a number of mining and exploration businesses that once operated out of this property. VAG purchased the property from GAF corporation, which, along with a predecessor corporation, operated the mine from 1936-1975. Currently the mine site consists of a network of mine and mill buildings and structures and two significant mill tailings piles estimated at 29-30 million tons.

State Investigation and Analysis

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) has been investigating this property due to significant erosion of the asbestos waste piles migrating offsite into nearby streams and wetlands.

ANR and the Department of Health are coordinating efforts on assessment and mitigation activities related to the site. The Health Department has conducted an analysis of the health data from communities within a 10 mile radius of the mine.

The analysis concludes that there is a concern about potential health effects due to past mining activities and this concern warrants additional study.

Asbestosis Linked to Residing Close to the Mine

This study found statistically significant associations between asbestosis disease/death and residence in the 13 towns closest to Belvidere Mountain asbestos mine. Vermonters discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of asbestosis were statistically more likely to live close to the mine, and Vermonters who died of asbestosis or asbestosis contributed to their death were statistically more likely to live close to the mine.

Lung Cancer Rates Not Significantly Higher

After an extensive review of the data used for the study, it was determined that lung cancer findings for towns within the 10-mile radius are NOT significantly higher than the rest of the state. It is not justified to conclude the presence of a statistical increase in lung cancer in the 10-mile radius around the mine.

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News

12/15/08

The public meetings in Eden and Lowell, which were cancelled last week due to weather concerns, have been rescheduled:

January 12 at 6:30 p.m. -- Eden Central School
January 13 at 6:30 p.m. -- Lowell Graded School

Meeting Notice Postcard

See 12/05/08 news item for related details and documents.

12/11/08

The public meetings scheduled for this evening and Friday have been cancelled due to weather concerns. A snow storm has been forecast for most of the state this evening and into Friday.

12/05/08

Public Meetings on Asbestos Mine -- Dec. 11 in Lowell and Dec. 12 in Eden

The towns of Lowell and Eden will host public meetings to discuss health and environmental concerns related to the now-closed Vermont Asbestos Group mine.

Residents of the towns surrounding the mine are invited to attend: Albany, Belvidere, Craftsbury, Eden, Hyde Park, Irasburg, Johnson, Lowell, Montgomery, Newport Town, Troy, Waterville and Westfield.

11/06/08

Investigation of off-site impacts needed at asbestos mine
New Health Department study suggests potential health risks

Read Full News Release

Summary:

State officials reiterated the immediate need for additional investigation of the impact of the Vermont Asbestos Group mine in Eden and Lowell in light of a new Department of Health report that found a potential for increased asbestos-related health risks for people who have lived nearby.

The Vermont Department of Health has completed a preliminary epidemiological analysis that suggests a potential risk of increased asbestos-related illnesses. A major limitation of the study is the lack of information about an individual’s exposure.

“Our findings are statistically significant and cautionary, but we need to know more,” said Health Commissioner Wendy Davis, MD. “It is extremely important that Vermonters stay off the mine, and we recommend that you contact your health care provider if you are concerned that you may have been exposed to asbestos.”

Towns included in the study were: Albany, Belvidere, Craftsbury, Eden, Hyde Park, Irasburg, Johnson, Lowell, Montgomery, Newport Town, Troy, Waterville and Westfield.

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