Oregon Public Broadcasting

Residents of Libby, Montana are hoping that a trial that began this week will close the books on an environmental scandal that’s nearly two decades old.

Thousands were sickened and hundreds died from a vermiculite mine there. Now the people who ran that mine are on trial.

Federal prosecutors say executives from chemical giant WR Grace and Company knew of the danger for nearly 15 years -- and kept it secret. Correspondent Anna King reports.

The town’s Vermiculite mine offered steady jobs. The mineral was used to amend gardening soil and insulat homes across the country. Libby children even played in piles of it around town. But that vermiculite contains asbestos. And it made many people sick.

Dusti Thompson has lived in Libby her whole life. She says most of her neighbors are just looking for a little bit of closure.

Dusti Thompson: "We don’t want to be known as the asbestos capital of the world. We want to be known for our recreation, our beautiful mountains and our lovely landscapes and the quality of people that live here."

Five retired executives of the former mining company face up to 15 years in prison and millions of dollars of fines if they are convicted.