Illinois EPA Secures Funding for Asbestos Abatement in Vacant School
The vacant Matthiessen School building in La Salle, Illinois is now slated for demolition. Though the school has been empty for years and local officials have wanted to tear it down for some time, they have been unable to do so because of the presence of deadly asbestos and lack of funding to properly abatement the hazardous material. Now, the Illinois EPA is using money from its hazardous waste fund to remove asbestos and other potential environmental and health threats.
According to Illinois EPA project manager Jody Kershaw, the project has had the EPA’s attention since receiving complaints from residents a few years ago, but funding wasn’t available until recently. The project is being overseen by certified asbestos removal contractors and has an estimated budget of $158,000. All asbestos-containing materials such as floor tiles, window putty and glazing, insulation wrapped around boiler and heating pipes will be removed.
Asbestos exposure has been linked to asbestos cancers, such as mesothelioma. Asbestos was commonly used in construction materials through the 1970s, and despite federal restrictions on the use of asbestos, the material is still present in many older buildings. Asbestos in buildings isn’t harmful as long as it’s left undisturbed, but in the case of building renovations or demolitions, asbestos can easily become airborne and potentially inhaled by people. That’s why it’s crucial to be certain the asbestos-laden buildings are properly abated.
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