Asbestos removal plan in place for fire-damaged Massachusetts paper mill
Parsons Paper Mill in Holyoke, Massachusetts was destroyed by fire in June 2008. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) held a meeting with residents to let them know what is planned for the cleanup. The current owner of the property filed for bankruptcy four years ago and owes the city over $2.2 million for back taxes and utilities. The city is attempting to recover that money in bankruptcy court, and the federal government will also seek the $1.8 million it’s spending on the fire site cleanup as well.
The former paper mill is contaminated with asbestos, which can be found in the facility’s window caulking, roof shingles and tank and pipe insulation. The EPA has come up with a traffic plan to haul away the asbestos-contaminated debris. Asbestos was used for insulation and fireproofing in many construction materials for much of the last century. Removal of asbestos is governed by strict federal guidelines put in place to protect workers and the public from the toxic substance, which is known to cause mesothelioma and other forms of cancer.
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