Date: Fri 04-Oct-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

library-Booth-asbestos-project

Full Text:

with cut: Tests Find Unacceptable Levels Of Asbestos At The Library.

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

Samples of dust particles taken last week inside the Cyrenius Booth Library

have been found to contain levels of asbestos that exceed federal EPA

standards and actions levels established by governmental health agencies,

according to First Selectman Bob Cascella.

"We are awaiting the final report [from the state]," Mr Cascella said Thursday

morning. "All we know is that quantities of asbestos were found that exceed

the legal limits. It's throughout the library, but not in every room. The

amount is unknown yet but we will have to do abatement."

Last week, dust on all floors of the library was sampled and tested for

asbestos and lead by Hygenix of Stamford. Preliminary tests indicated no

presence of the hazardous materials and others showed detectable amounts below

the 1 percent action level. But the detailed tests performed last week

indicated unacceptable levels of asbestos.

Mr Cascella said the report from the state will outline what is wrong and the

methods of abatement. Public Works Director Fred Hurley and Frank Krasnickas,

chairman of the Public Building and Site Commission, will solicit bids on the

project and make their recommendation to the first selectman. "Ben Spragg and

I are the purchasing authority, and we will hire the abatement contractor,"

said Mr Cascella. "We hope to have one on board by the end of next week."

Depending on the extent and levels of asbestos found, abatement could cost

$100,000 or more, according to Mr Cascella. The clean-up will be paid for with

the library project's contingency funds and asbestos abatement budget. "If

it's deemed there may have been negligence on someone's part, we can look,

possibly, to recoup the funds."

This does not necessarily mean litigation, he added.

Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the state Department

of Public Health first visited the site after a construction worker filed an

anonymous complaint. The agencies may hand out violiations if they determine

work was done improperly.

Once abatement is complete, the potential health risks will be removed,

according to Health District Director Mark Cooper. The asbestos was disturbed

when crews worked on renovations to the existing building, and the health risk

to them is low because exposure was not long-term, said the director.

"The studies are showing Asbestosis results from very high exposure over a

long period of time. And the type of situation we have at the library just

doesn't fall into that category," said Mr Cooper. "That's not to say we

shouldn't have some level of concern and that it shouldn't be cleaned-up."

Asbestos is a fine mineral fiber that has a physical presence and does not

leave a residue once removed with a special HEPA-Vac vacuum, said the health

district director. Any surface or object that has asbestos could be vacuumed

to abate the problem and remove any future health risk, he added.

Until the hazardous material is cleaned out of the building, renovation work

inside the library will be postponed. Full-time library staff will continue to

work at the site of the former A&P in the Queen Street Shopping Center,

discharging books placed in the book drop, working on Genaeology Room

materials, developing pamphlets for the different departments that will be in

the expanded library facility, planning fundraising activities for the

addition, ordering books, and answering patrons' calls. Part-time employees

are not working in the temporary space, which has been donated by property

owner Joseph Kasper.

Construction workers have three to four weeks' worth of work left to do in the

library after the asbestos abatement is complete. If the building is to be

closed for two more months, the Library Board of Trustees will explore the

possibility of opening the temporary location to the public and lending out

materials returned in the book drop.