[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Owens Announces Asbestos Awareness Seminar to be Held Friday, Aug. 15 in Kingman

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Director Owens Announces Asbestos Awareness Seminar to be Held
Friday, Aug. 15 in Kingman 

PHOENIX (Aug. 12, 2008) -- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Director Steve Owens announced today that ADEQ will conduct the third of
a series of Asbestos Awareness Seminars on Friday, Aug. 15 in Kingman to
help demolition and renovation contractors and small communities comply
with asbestos regulations. 

ADEQ, in partnership with the Arizona chapter of the Environmental
Information Association, conducted two other Asbestos Awareness Seminars
earlier this year in Holbrook and Clarkdale. 

These seminars are free but registration is required. Registration for
the seminar in Kingman -- which will be held from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at City
of Kingman Council Chambers, 310 N. Fourth Street -- is required before
5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13. For additional information, please visit
www.eia-az.org or contact ADEQ at asbestos@azdeq.gov. 

Director Owens launched the Route 66 Asbestos Initiative last October to
address potential asbestos problems in small communities throughout
Arizona and ensure that asbestos-containing material is handled and
disposed of properly. 

"Many communities across the state have older buildings they want to
preserve, renovate or even demolish that contain asbestos," Director
Owens said.  "This is especially true in Kingman, where there are a
number of historic buildings. 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 the Route 66
Initiative we are providing 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." 

Owens noted that as part of the asbestos initiative, ADEQ has designated
an outreach specialist in its air-quality division to provide technical
assistance and asbestos education to rural communities.

"We want local officials to contact us if they have any questions about
potential asbestos problems in their communities," 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." 

The seminars are designed for contractors but are open to anyone seeking
information about compliance with the asbestos regulations. 

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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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