Asbestos discovered in Kansas state prisons
Following criticism from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about past asbestos handling, state prison officials in Topeka, Kansas commissioned a $170,000 study to assess asbestos contamination in state prison facilities. Lansing and Winfield prisons were found heavily contaminated with asbestos materials, prompting remediation work on pipe wrappings and ceiling tiles.
Asbestos was also found at other state institutions, but a spokesperson from the corrections department said that the state isn’t required to start immediate asbestos abatement and added that the audit will help the department manage the asbestos issue during future renovation work. His remarks drew criticism from a labor union official representing Kansas corrections officers and prompted an Alma lawyer to request a federal investigation based on suspicions of improper asbestos handling at Topeka Correctional Facility.
For the full story, go to MSNBC.
