Today a hearing is being held in Missoula, Montana to determine what evidence will be allowed in a criminal trial against W.R. Grace Co.

In an indictment that was unsealed in February of 2005, W.R. Grace Co and six of its former executives are charged with violating the federal Clean Air Act and obstructing an Environmental Protection Agency investigation into the asbestos contamination from a vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana that has killed and sickened hundreds of people in the area. 

The trial will begin on February 19, and will decide if W.R. Grace Co. and its executives knew of the potential health risks brought on by the mine and tried to cover them up.

In July of 2006, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy actually decided in favor of W.R. Grace on a number of issues concerning the mine but the 9th U.S. District Court of Appeals reversed those decisions.