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Show PAGE 22 THE ZEPHYRAPRIL 89 Is It Safe? Asbestos Dumping citizens of Grand County have been concerned by reports that the county governincreasingly loads of asbestos ment has been accepting which are being buried at our dump. Apparently the on been has for going years. practice It first caae to the attention of new County Commissioner Merv Lawton on January 17, when County Clerk Fran Townsend informed him that several truckloads of asbestos were scheduled for dumping between January 18 and March 31. Since aid-Januar- y, out-of-sta- The Rocmont te Industrial Corporation of Salt contracted to remove sixty tons of Biotech in Johnstown, Colorado. Lake City was asbestos from Coors Lawton contacted health Inspector Jim Adamson, who was Adamson stated that the aware of previous shipments. Grand County landfill was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for the containment of asbestos. State regulations required that asbestos be double bagged and -- wet when shipped. As long as those rules were followed, there was, according to the health inspector, no problem. Lawton then approved the operation. According to the contract with Rocmont, the fee for the permit is $1200.00 per trailer load. According to Commissioner Lawton, the fee goes into the general fund. What is Asbestos? In order to determine asbestos is a threat to the health and safety of Grand County, important to understand just what asbestos is, and how affects the human body. According to the EPA, "Asbestos is a natural- if it's it Colorado less costly than disposing of there. The E.F.A. specifies that all containers must be tagged with a warning label. A land approved for receipt of asbestos waste should sdvance notification from the waste hauler (in require Grand County, 48 hours advance notification is required). The landfill operator should inspect the loads to verify that the asbestos is properly contained and warning tags safely and without threat to the public health. In burying the waste, the E.F.A. recommends that a separate area for asbestos was disposal be designated. A record should be provided that Identifies the specific site location. If the burial site is not going to be used again, it must be covered within at least 36 Inches of compacted material. To control erosion in desert areas where vegetation is sparse, 3 - 6 inches of well graded crushed rock is recommended for placement on top of the final cover. material fill affixed. $ additional expense that makes transporting asbestos from er Moab the next day. In fact, however, The and a showerdecontamlnation facility. stopped for a soft drink on that evening had not only placed himself at risk, but everyone who came in contact with him as well. Finally, the E.F.A. requires that access be controlled to prevent exposure of the public to potential health and safety hazards at the disposal site. So, for liability protection of landfill operators, fencing and warning signs are recommended to control public access. Vaming signs should be displayed at landfill entrances and at Intervals of 330 feet or less along the landfill perimeter. The sign should read: ASBESTOS VASTS DISPOSAL SITE BREATHING MAY CAUSE LUNG ASBESTOS DUST DISEASE OR CANCER The Situation In Grand Countv a county that just survived a year of political controversy over s toxic waste incinerator, the public has grown especially sensitive to the dumping or disposal of Commissioner any hazardous material in Grand County. Lawton is correct when he points out that the health risks of burying asbestos don't even compare to the threat we faced from possible dioxin contamination and the inIn addition, the E.F.A. provides some ascinerator. surance that if its regulations and recommendations are closely followed, the disposal of asbestos can be done To 6-- to hit was no filters, truck driver The Grand County Health Inspector had believed that health concerns related to asbestos inhalation are mostly limited to "asbestosis" (a noncancerous respiratory disease that consists of scarring of lung tissues.) Whan asbestos materials are prepared for removal, they are wetted with water sprayed in a fine mist, allowing time between sprayings for complete penetration of the material. Once thoroughly soaked, the E.F.A. requires that the waste be containerized to avoid creating dust. The generally recommended containers are thick In Utah, regulaplastic bags, sealed to be leak-tigh- t. tions require that the asbestos be double bagged, in Colorado, the waste must also be sealed in steel drums, an several days later, rased more At 7:30 p.m. a large truck-trail- stopped in the parking lot at Dave's Comer Market on Mill The logo on the side of the truck read Creek Drive. "Transport International Pools." Anitra Lynn, an employee at the Comer Market, watched the truck driver come into the store. According to Ms. Lynn, "the man was covered with some type of blackish material from head to toe. His hands, his face, his clothes were filthy." Apparently embarrassed by his appearance, the driver said, "Don't look at me; I haven't taken a shower yet." When Ms. Lynn asked what he was hauling, he said, Ve're dumping it in your "Actually it's asbestos. landfill." He further explained that they were dumping at night to avoid the threat of a snow storm that he said was and disease. Asbestos Waste Transport and Disposal was wet. Another incident, tlons and concern. forecasted storm. In addition, the permit stipulates that asbestos waste must be delivered "during the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m." The E.F.A. strongly urges that persons Involved in the removal of asbestos take extra safety precautions such as the use of a negative air pressure system, utilizing fans products and Insulation. In the last two decades, medical studies of asbestos-relate- d diseases have revealed that the primary exposure route is inhalation. And of particular concern, is the fact that studies suggest there is no safe minimum level of exposure, below which there would be no chance of filters. and recommendations being adhered to On February 7, a trailer load of corrugated asbestos board was hauled to the landfill. TV 6 producer Jim Mattingly attempted to film the unloading. The driver of the truck was quite upset by Mattingly's presence and refused to discuss the operation. But the other employee did speak to Mattingly, and stated that while the asbestos was bagged, he did not believe that the there CAUTION ly occurring family of fibrous mineral substance." The typical size of an asbestos fiber is so small, it is not generally visible to the human eye. When disturbed, asbestos fibers may become suspended in the air for many hours, thus increasing the extent of asbestos exposure for individuals within the area. Asbestos became a popular commercial product because it is noncombustible and resistant to corrosion. Asbestos fibers have been mixed with various types of binding materials to create an estimated 3,000 different commercial products, including brake linings, floor tile, sealants, plastics, textile federal regulations specifying asbestos limitations in sabient water and in products such as food processing in risks Grand County? supposed it However, according to the E.P.A., asbestos exposure can cause various forms of cancer. The incidence of lung cancer is four times higher for persons exposed to asbestos. And the risk of mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the thin membrane lining of the chest, is almost ten times as great. Other medical studies suggest a link between asbestos and cancer of the esophagus, larynx, oral cavity, stomach, colon and kidney. In addition, because of concern that there may be potential health impacts not yet identified, there are But are those Polaroid photography who The question that arose from these two incidents was obviously, are E.F.A. and State health regulations being followed? Commissioner Lawton contacted County Road Tim Pogue, who stated he had never personally Supervisor checked the bags to see if they were wet. In fairness, no one had ever told Pogue that it was his responsibility to Lawton did recommend that future loads be indo so. spected. The Perception The problems discussed so far are technical in nature, they are concerns that with some effort can be corrected. But there is another more subjective problem of public perception. Sam Taylor raised that concern last year as it applied to the incinerator. No matter how safe the disposal of this material might be, there is the perception that Grand County has become a dumping ground for someone else's problems. If asbestos waste is so safe people ask, why is it being trucked 300 miles over 10,000 foot mountsln passes to a landfill in a small Utah town? As has been stated already, economies seems to be the answer. It's cheaper to haul the material here, than follow state regulations in Colorado. But that in turn, raises another question: Are charging enough for the presumed risk we are accepting? Does anyone know just how much it costs to dispose of asbestos in other states? Finally, there is the perception that this has been one of the county government's best kept secrets. Uhile asbestos dumping has been going on her for years, it does not appear it has ever been discussed at a public meeting, a county commission meeting or in any public forum. Until this year. Grand County and the City of Moab shared financial responsibility for the landfill. Yet, the City did not share in the decision-makin- g process regarding asbestos. In fact, Mayor Tom Stocks was unaware of any asbestos dumping until February, when the story first broke. The problems from this issue are not Irreversible rising - - or insurmountable they can be resolved. What's needed more than anything is a spirit of cooperation within county government to assure that the public's best Interests are represented, and better communication ? between our government and the public serves. Jim Stiles it -- When in Grand Junction... 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