Date: Fri 11-Oct-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

library-asbestos-Booth

Full Text:

Town Awaits Approval Of Asbestos Clean-Up Plan For Library

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

Town and health district officials await approval by the state Department of

Public Health of an asbestos abatement plan for the interior of the Cyrenius

Booth Library.

The plan was recommended this week by HYGENIX Inc of Stamford, which found

unacceptable levels of asbestos at the site. The company tested for lead and

asbestos within the existing library building, and is now sampling for

asbestos outside the building.

Twenty samples of construction material within the building were tested for

asbestos the last week in September. In addition to the

asbestos-containing-materials (ACMs) previously identified by Mystic Air

Quality Consultants, the company reported that ceiling tile glue-dot and roof

flashing material also contained levels of asbestos that exceed action levels

established by the EPA and state Department of Public Health.

After the September 24 site inspection by Hygenix, the company reported:

"Throughout much of the library, books, shelving, furniture and office

equipment was still in place, and covered loosely with plastic drop cloths. In

many spots, especially areas near recently-cut openings in the plaster walls

and ceilings, large amounts of construction dust and debris covered the

exposed surfaces. The abatement recommended by Robert Brown, director of

industrial hygiene for HYGENIX, assumes "that all contents of the library will

require decontamination."

Mr Brown outlined a five-step abatement process "based on the excessive level

of asbestos dust throught the library, and presences of lead dust at limited

locations within the library." The clean-up would utilize a HEPA vacuum

system, which is designed to remove such hazardous material.

After doing preliminary work to establish a decontaminated "Clean Holding

Area," the report recommends the following:

Working one at a time, wet wipe and/or HEPA vacuum all movable items, and pass

them through a series of air locks into the Clean Holding Area.

As the Clean Holding Room is filled with cleaned items, retest the room for

airborne asbestos by [Transmission Electron Microscopy] (TEM). If test results

are acceptable, remove the materials to a storage area outside the library.

As each library area is emptied, clean all exposed surfaces by HEPA vacuuming

and washing. Document adequacy of cleaning by performing aggressive TEM

clearance of each vacated area.

After documenting adequate cleaning of vacated area, seal the room and repeat

the process in the next area...

Do not remove containment barriers and HEPA ventilation systems until the

final visual inspections of all library areas is satisfactory and clearance

air samples demonstrate airborne fiber levels less than 70 asbestos

structures/mm2 average in all building areas.

Eight of the samples taken by HYGENIX showed lead content less than the

maximum level permitted for reoccupancy. "The generally low lead content in

wipe samples, despite the thick layer of dust, can be related to the small

number of plaster surfaces with lead-based paint," stated the report.

One sample, recorded on a concrete floor on the lower level was elevated, and

theorized to be from a residual of epoxy paint floor sealant, not from

construction disturbance.

Complete Abatement Plan

Town officials expect the DEP to approve a complete abatement plan by the

beginning of next week; they hope to have an abatement contractor hired by the

end of the week, according to Public Works Director Fred Hurley, who is

coordinating the clean-up. The plan would include forthcoming proposals that

address the potential disturbance of asbestos in the remaining construction

work, and possible contamination outside the building.

The initial clean-up, which will abate the asbestos material already disturbed

inside the library, will probably take a couple of weeks, according to Mr

Hurley. "The abatement contractor will be working inside the library with a

staging area outside with trailers. The library will be vacated from top to

bottom," he said.

First Selectman Bob Cascella said that once the furniture, equipment, and

books are removed from the library, construction crews will go in and complete

the work they have postponed because of the problem with hazardous material.

Crews have concentrated their effort on the addition while the building has

been closed, so Mr Cascella believes the project completion date may not be

far off schedule.

"We are moving on this thing about as fast as we can. It's become a top

priority," said Mr Cascella, who, along with Finance Directpr Benjamin Spragg,

will authorize contingency funds to pay for the clean-up. "We're taking this a

piece at a time - we have to for obvious reasons." He said "it's just too soon

to tell" when the library will reopen to the public.

"We're getting full cooperation from town agencies and the contractors, and

keep plugging along," he said.

Mark Cooper, Director of the Newtown Health District, said they have already

acted on the first of HYGENIX' recommendations by posting a sign at the

library restricting access to personnel trained in and outfitted for asbestos

removal.

The Library Board of Trustees is considering the option to open a temporary

location so the public can check out library materials returned to the book

drop and decontaminated through abatement.