[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Owens Announces Route 66 Asbestos Initiative

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Director Owens Announces Route 66 Asbestos Initiative 

PHOENIX (Oct. 1) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)
Director Steve Owens announced today that the department is launching
the Route 66 Asbestos Initiative to help communities along old Route 66
in Northern Arizona deal with asbestos problems.

Director Owens said that recent problems with asbestos in Winslow,
Holbrook and elsewhere in rural Arizona show the need for a targeted
effort by ADEQ to work with communities to address potential asbestos
problems and ensure that asbestos-containing material (known as ACM) is
handled and disposed of properly to reduce the risk of exposure to
cancer-causing asbestos fibers.

Many older buildings and structures along the Route 66 corridor were
built during an era in which asbestos was used as a fireproofing
insulating material.  When these buildings and structures are renovated
or demolished, the asbestos can become crumbled and friable.  If the
asbestos is not dealt with properly, people can breathe the asbestos
fibers, where they can be lodged in the lungs and result in lung cancer
or other serious respiratory problems.
    
"This Route 66 Asbestos Initiative is modeled after our highly
successful Route 66 Brownfields initiative where we have worked closely
with local communities to remove old abandoned gas tanks in Northern
Arizona corridor and put the properties back into productive use,"
Director Owens said. "If asbestos is not handled properly during a
renovation or demolition, it can present a huge risk to public health,
as well as cause the site to become contaminated.  Through this
initiative, we will provide technical assistance to communities to
ensure that asbestos is dealt with safely and properly and, if there is
contamination, find ways to help the community clean up the site."

Director Owens pointed out that ADEQ has been involved in two recent
matters involving asbestos along Route 66 in Northern Arizona: (1) the
clean-up of the Standin' on the Corner park site in Winslow, where ADEQ
provided technical assistance and funding to Winslow to clean up
asbestos-containing rubble from a building fire, and (2) the removal of
asbestos-laden debris from the  demolition of a Bureau of Indian Affairs
(BIA) dormitory in Holbrook, where ADEQ issued an asbestos clean-up
order to the contractor and has overseen the clean-up effort. 

As part of the asbestos initiative, ADEQ has designated an outreach
specialist in its air-quality division to provide technical assistance,
outreach and asbestos education to rural communities.  ADEQ also is
adding an additional asbestos inspector and is ensuring that 
its community liaisons and staff in its regional offices are trained to
help communities address asbestos-related issues.

"We want local officials to contact us if they have any questions about
potential asbestos problems in their communities," Director Owens said.
"We also want them to alert us about any improper demolition or
renovation activities that can present a risk of asbestos exposure to
people." 

Director Owens added that the Route 66 Asbestos Initiative is part of a
larger effort being conducted by ADEQ to address asbestos problems
throughout rural Arizona.

 "We will be working closely with rural communities all across the
state, but we are focusing our efforts first in Northern Arizona,"
Director Owens said.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that forms long, thin fibers.
It became a popular building material in the early part of the 20th
Century because of its resistance to heat, electricity and chemical
damage and was even mixed into cement. When asbestos is disturbed, the
carcinogenic fibers can be released into the air and travel great
distances.  Asbestos is subject to special notice, handling and disposal
requirement under the law.

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News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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