Asbestos removal can be crushing burden on small towns ™

The expense of dealing with asbestos contamination safely and legally can cripple a rural small town budget. Vacant buildings become dangerous as they decay, but the expense of renovating or even demolishing such buildings is often beyond the community’s resources. Small towns face the additional difficulties and expense of being far from certified contractors with the technical knowledge to perform asbestos removal legally, as well as from landfills that are qualified and prepared to handle asbestos. In one small town, a contractor had already begun demolition of a building when state inspectors discovered asbestos, and the cost of cleaning up and removing the asbestos in this one building was more than the town’s entire annual budget. State and federal funding to assist such cleanups is limited and does not begin to cover the need. The high cost and lack of resources leads some property owners to ignore the law and the health risk by tearing down or renovating structures without using proper asbestos removal procedures. These individuals face little risk of being caught and fined for their actions, but they could face developing an asbestos-related cancer, such as mesothelioma, many years in the future.
For the full story, go to http://www.denverpost.com/
From:http://www.mesotheliomanews.com/2007/10/17/asbestos-removal-can-be-crushing-burden-on-small-towns/

Flood water cleanup at Redlands, California city offices delayed by evidence of asbestos and mold™

Flood water cleanup at Redlands City Hall did not find e-coli contamination, but it did find evidence of mold and asbestos that must be contained and removed before the city offices can be reopened. An industrial hygienist found no problem in the water, but cleanup crews found mold behind some walls and asbestos in the Fire Department administration offices. Further evaluation will be done before cleanup work can be completed and the offices reopened.
For the full story, go to http://www.dailybulletin.com
From:http://www.mesotheliomanews.com/2007/10/18/flood-water-cleanup-at-redlands-california-city-offices-delayed-by-evidence-of-asbestos-and-mold/

Atlantic City's Sands Casino Hotel was blown up before a festive crowd despite neighbors' asbestos fears™

Atlantic City’s Sands Casino Hotel exploded last night before an audience of approximately 100,000. Fireworks led up to the detonation, all orchestrated as a tourist event. Earlier in the day, a judge denied a neighboring hotel owner’s request for an injunction because the hotel owner was concerned that there might be health and safety risks attached to the implosion. He claimed that the owners of the Sands hotel did not sufficiently answer questions about possible exposure to asbestos caused by the demolition. He sought evidence that precautions were being taken to prevent the public from being exposed to asbestos, PCBs or lead. Community members had complained that the construction area was not watered down sufficiently and consistently, and heavy dust was escaping even before the explosion. Representatives of the Sands Hotel claimed that all hazardous materials had already been removed. An environmental consultant wrote to New Jersey’s governor that the explosion would create an enormous dust cloud that could contain asbestos. The demolition did create an enormous dust cloud that blew inland from the site. The Sands hotel was demolished to clear the way for a $1.5 billion resort.
For the full story, go to http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com
from:http://www.mesotheliomanews.com/2007/10/19/atlantic-citys-sands-casino-hotel-was-blown-up-before-a-festive-crowd-despite-neighbors-asbestos-fears/