Prosecution questions Peronard, sets up its case
Following the lunch recess, EPA on-site coordinator Paul Peronard faced almost two hours of questioning from U.S. government trial attorney Kevin Cassidy regarding his first visit to Libby, his tour of the mine and what he saw there in November 1999.
Throughout Peronard’s testimony, several pieces of evidence – including a number of aerial photographs of different sites around Libby - were displayed to the court which Peronard was asked to comment on. He testified that he, along with others from both the EPA and W.R. Grace Co., spent his first visit to Libby touring the area, including the mine. He also recalled seeing scattered vermiculite upon arriving in Libby.
Speaking about the mine’s former screening plant site - which at the time of his visit had been operating under the Parker family as Raintree Nursery – Peronard said, “It was all very dusty…you could see the dust sort of going in and out of the buildings.” He testified that there were a number of large piles of vermiculite ore around the orchard area of the nursery and also recalled seeing one of the Parker’s grandchildren playing with vermiculite during his visit.
Despite vermiculite being abundant all over Libby, Peronard testified he and others took no precautions during their tour of the operation. ”I didn’t think I needed to,” he said.
Following his initial visit to Libby, Peronard testified that he returned home and began formulating a plan for an investigation – one he said must include both environmental sampling and medical research.
At roughly 2:40 p.m., Molloy called for an afternoon recess. Peronard will continue his testimony at 3 p.m.
–Chris D’Angelo
Posted: February 25th, 2009 under News.
Tags: D'Angelo
Comments
Comment from David F. Latham, editor, The Montanian newspaper, Libby, Montana
Time February 25, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Per Paul Peronard, “He recalled clearly seeing vermiculite in the area upon arrival.” Do you mean he recalled clearly or he saw clearly? Meaning is unclear.
Comment from Terry Trent
Time February 25, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Dear Mr, Latham,
Thank you. Please note that Paul was not allowed as an “expert scientific witness”, that is for more reasons than meet the eye. In this case, there are some 90 or more “amphiboles” in our immediate world. Among those that are fibrous, all exhibit different disease causing potentials. Vastly different. Given that people’s lives may depend on terminology, and indeed they always have depended upon that in Libby, one might do better to listen to a real scientist, (none of which are in the government’s case because they have all been trained to not say anything other than “asbestos”) and call your material “fibrous Tremolite”.
Not that the government cares all that much about semantics, they just care that you don’t care enough about semantics to get over this HUGE hump in thinking. Everybody in the United States, at the 99% level, needs to learn as soon as humanly possible that there is a vast difference between being exposed to “fibrous Tremolite” and “asbestos” and an even larger difference of being exposed to “amphibole”. And a huge reason, that is not in your best interests, why the government chooses not to use the correct and far more specific terminology.
Best regards
Comment from Mike Crill Missoula,Mt
Time February 25, 2009 at 8:03 pm
How many times must that duck be dissected before it’s found to be a duck.EPA toxicity…Damn duck…Hi Terry…The trial is getting nasty and 3/4 months to go. Justice and truth is in the air.I can feel it when I breathe.
Comment from Terry Trent
Time February 25, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Hope you are right Mike. The people themselves will have to snatch justice and truth from the jaws of defeat.
Comment from Peter D’Angelo
Time February 26, 2009 at 6:41 am
To: Terry Trent and Mike Crill thank you for understanding and pointing out the real issues and concerns of this trial.
My son is one of the journalism student covering the trial for the Univ of Montana and it seems as if some people are missing the whole point. It doesn’t really matter if a student writes the number 4 or spells it out, four. My point is this a little less editing and more reporting on what needs to be said would have and still will go a long way.
Thanks again for focusing on the real concerns of this trial and not the trivial.
Comment from Mike Crill Missoula,Mt
Time March 25, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Thank you Peter.I have had the pleasure to sit down and talk with Chris. Talking to me about Libby, is like no other but than again, they say I am too.But truth will prevail and those guilty shall fall. Fall all the way to hell for what they done to all of us.This was no accident…And it continues today by the lies being sold that Libby is safe. I am really thankful Peter that Chris and all the others are involved and that what they all do from this,will effect the rest of their lives. As this is what we leave behind for them/our kids generation. The U of M in what they are doing with the help of media/internet…the whole world will not move to Libby and maybe this ignorant and careless Govt can make sure of that. Libby is not worth the human pain and suffer till death. No town is. Stay away from Libby is what I say.Chris will save people by the truth. You should be very proud of Chris…He reminds me of my son…he cares.Take care and believe in justice what ever that is…
Comment from David F. Latham, editor, The Montanian newspaper, Libby, Montana
Time February 25, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Please make correction, name of Parkers’ business was Raintree Nursery.