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.
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