Most employees, including judges, of Michigan’s Ottawa County Courthouse were recently busy packing and moving to the county’s new building. The former courthouse, built in 1965, contained asbestos. In addition, the small size of the courtrooms routinely interfered with trial proceedings as the necessary parties tried to squeeze in.

Construction on the new building began in 2007 and will cost $23 million. The new building will be essentially asbestos free and is designed to accommodate the county’s anticipated growing need for space.

The former building will not be immediately demolished. Asbestos abatement is a significant factor in the demolition and will take several months to complete. Federal and EPA regulations require that any construction project where asbestos is present first be managed by a certified asbestos abatement organization to prevent the release of asbestos into the environment.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber that was widely used in construction during the 20th century because of it’s natural insulating and fireproofing properties. Tragically, asbestos is a toxic substance. The microscopic fibers are easily swallowed and breathed in where they lodge in the lining of the lungs and stomach and can lead to asbestos diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelial lining of the lungs, stomach and/or chest. It is particularly insidious because it has a long latency period and often victims don’t know they have it until it is in an advanced stage, but not always. Currently, there is no cure for mesothelioma.

If you or a family member has been exposed to asbestos during a construction or demolition project, it is essential that you consult with your physician right away for a mesothelioma screening.

If mesothelioma is present, you may have certain legal remedies to recover financial compensation for your losses. Contact our mesothelioma attorneys today to learn more. 866-632-7574.

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter has asked the EPA to handle the BoRit Asbestos Tailings Pile Site in Ambler, PA, differently. “It is my understanding that EPA is in the process of shipping dirt to the BoRit site,” he noted. “My constituents are understandably concerned that this dirt will be used to cap the site and have advised me that previous capping attempts have not been successful.”

The waste pile is estimated to contain 149,500 cubic yards over six acres, and is about 25 feet above ground surface. According to the Mid-Atlantic Superfund website, “The BoRit Asbestos site was used to dispose of asbestos-containing material which came from a nearby asbestos manufacturing plant from the 1930’s to the 1970’s.”

Recently, the site was covered with a layer of fabric and then topped with six to eight inches of gravel. Local residents were especially concerned that this treatment was not adequate to contain the asbestos waste when a strong storm hit the area on June 13th and 14th.

Andrew Salvatore, a local resident and Community Advisory Group member, visited the site during the storm and claims that he observed disturbance and off-site migration of waste from the asbestos pile.

EPA On-Site Coordinator, Eduardo Rovira, responded regarding the Wissahickon Creek section of the site, “We don’t think that any asbestos migrated off site.” There is a possibility, however, that off-site migration of asbestos waste did occur in other areas of the Superfund site, such as the Rose Valley area (the EPA has yet to stabilize several sections).

The situation in Ambler is indicative of the insidious nature of asbestos - it is difficult to destroy and when disturbed, it becomes airborne where it can be swallowed or inhaled, causing asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma up to 4 or 5 decades later.

The lethal legacy of asbestos manufacturers, as well as that of dozens of other toxic substance manufacturers, is well beyond the resources available for clean up and removal in programs such as the Superfund Program.