Soil testing at the site Stratford officials planned to use for a new animal shelter has revealed asbestos, lead and chemical waste–reminders of the old Raymark brake manufacturer facility that used to operate in the area. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will now be involved in a cleanup of the site, but because that process could take five years or more, the town will have to find another location for the new animal shelter. Raymark’s toxic waste has been found all over Stratford because the plant used to give away free construction filler. The danger of this filler, and its presence all over town, were not discovered until after Raymark went bankrupt in the mid 1990s. The EPA is still involved in a 15-year cleanup operation from those early discoveries of Raymark’s toxic waste. Disturbing the land for construction, or even gardening and mowing, can release asbestos fibers and other toxins. Inhaling asbestos can cause mesothelioma and other serious diseases.
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