An abandoned asbestos mine in the middle of Montana’s Gallatin National Forest will not be cleaned up, say officials speaking on behalf of the forest service.
Despite concerns of contamination by those who frequent the park, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports that, instead, the trail leading to the old Karst Asbestos Mine has been re-routed in order to skirt the area. The trail, currently known as the Asbestos Mine Trail, will also most likely be renamed.
“We’ve basically determined that the site is not a problem,†said Mary Beth Marks, the Gallatin’s geologist. “Based on doing that work, we believe we’ve taken care of the hazard,†she said.
The mine was first opened in 1901 by pioneer Pete Karst. It operated sporadically through World War II. During those years, hundreds of tons of asbestos were excavated and shipped, first by tram and then by truck. The shipments often traveled through the city of Bozeman, resulting in the need to clean up several sites there. The mine closed in 1975.
Nearby residents say the National Park Service’s refusal to clean up the former mine surprises them. But Department of Environmental Quality officials say there should be no concerns.
“I go up there two or three times a year and I don’t feel at any health risk,†said Pierre Amicucci, a geologist who works in the asbestos control program of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. However, if the site was in a residential area, it likely would be approached differently, he said.
