DEQ oversees Crane Shed asbestos removal

No other crews allowed on site; work should be done in 2-3 weeks

George Ward, engineering consultant to Crown Investment Group, has been frequent visitor to site of demolished Crane Shed; Historical Society members got tour Thursday afternoon.

September 3 - The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is coordinating the removal and disposal of asbestos-containing material at the site of the Brooks-Scanlon Crane Shed, demolished by its owners two weeks ago, DEQ officials said Friday.

The abatement project began Monday and is expected to be completed in two to three weeks, said Mark Fisher, an air quality specialist with the DEQ in Bend.

It is unknown how much asbestos was released during the demolition that occurred the night of Aug. 19, Fisher said.

However, since that time and prior to the abatement project, the materials were not disturbed and have been kept wet to minimize any release of the fibers, Fisher said. The results of the current area air monitoring while the abatement project has been in process have been within acceptable levels.

DEQ was not notified prior to the demolition and has no information indicating that an asbestos building survey was performed prior to the demolition as required by the regulations. As a result, the agency issued a notice of noncompliance to Crown Investment Group for several violations of the asbestos regulations. Further investigation is ongoing.

Asbestos was found in the roofing material, which is a small portion of the total debris at the site. Not all of the roofing material contains asbestos, but the DEQ has requested that all roofing material be handled as if it contains asbestos.

A licensed asbestos abatement contractor, IRS Environmental of Portland, has been hired by Crown Investment Group to perform the abatement project, Fisher confirmed. An abatement plan was submitted to the DEQ and approved.

The abatement project will consist of separating the roofing material from the other material and placing the roofing material in front end loaders double lined with plastic. The plastic will be sealed and transferred to dumpsters doubled lined with plastic for transport to Knott Landfill.
All asbestos-containing material is being kept wet during the abatement project to minimize the release of asbestos fibers from the site, as well as protect the workers, Fisher said. Workers are required to wear respirators and protective clothing. The material will be kept wet using a combination of sprinklers, water trucks, and hoses.

Air monitoring also will be performed throughout the abatement project. Workers will have personal monitors for determining worker exposure. In addition, area monitors will be run twice a day, adjacent to and downwind of the working area.

DEQ 'squelched' use of other crews

In order to access the asbestos containing material and separate it from the other debris, it will be necessary to use large equipment to lift and move material around at the site. Water will be applied at all times while moving and handling asbestos containing material.

Debris that does not contain asbestos will be moved to storage piles at the site until all of the asbestos containing material is removed from the site. Further demolition activities will be managed by the City in accordance with its “Stop Work Order.”

Fisher confirmed that there was misunderstanding at the start of the week about Crown’s ability to bring in other crews to help move the material.

“We immediately squelched that,” he said. “We have to do the abatement project first. They can deal with the remaining material after.”

He said DEQ had put out a release Friday detailing the abestos abatement work, because some people passing the site and seeing heavy equipment at work were concerned that the site owners were not following regulations.

More information about the health effects of exposure to asbestos fibers during the demolition is available on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) asbestos web site: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/. In addition, individuals may want to contact their physician for information about possible health effects.

For more information, contact Mark Fisher at 541-388-6146 x 275 or Frank Messina at 541-388-6146 x 226 at the DEQ Bend office.