Westview Park worries about asbestos dust
Government response slow in coming
By Marcia Ames
Posted 10/02/08
Residents of Catonsville’s Westview Park fear they may be inhaling asbestos in dust generated in mid-September by construction activity in their community, according to Steve Whisler, president of the Westview Park Improvement and Civic Association.
Because neither the state nor Baltimore County has any regulations or plans for dealing with the naturally occurring mineral, however, government response to the community’s plight has been slow in coming.
“Everyone is letting evidence slip away in the rain,” said Whisler, referring to heavy downpours in recent days that likely washed any dust into the soil and street gutters.
Hosting an emergency meeting of residents and government officials Oct. 1 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Catonsville, Whisler called for the Maryland Department of the Environment to test houses and other buildings near the 1505 N. Rolling Road construction site to determine the level of asbestos contamination, if any.
He commended the county and the site developer, Enterprise Homes, for halting a rock-crushing operation that generated the dust.
Enterprise ordered the work stopped Sept. 22, when tests showed asbestos was present in the rocks, according to company spokeswoman Amy Elias.
“What I’m not satisfied with is whether or not we have an adequate assessment of risk in adjacent homes, businesses and the grounds, streams and property that we all live on and use every single day,” Whisler said.
He asked that the state apply the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, which requires elementary and secondary schools to inspect their buildings for asbestos-containing building material and prepare plans to prevent or reduce asbestos hazards.
Asbestos can cause lung diseases, including cancer, if inhaled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Although the law does not apply to naturally occurring asbestos, as was found at the Enterprise Homes site, Whisler asked that the state hire independent contractors to inspect the site and the surrounding area.
About 85 to 100 people attended Whisler’s emergency community meeting, including guest speakers Jonas Jacobson, who directs the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management, and Angelo Bianca, deputy director of the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Air and Radiation Management Administration.
A Baltimore-based company, Enterprise broke ground July 17 for the $12-million, 83-unit project, which is due for completion by June.
Hord Coplan Macht Inc. is the architect; Whiting-Turner is the contractor.
Because neither the state nor Baltimore County has any regulations or plans for dealing with the naturally occurring mineral, however, government response to the community’s plight has been slow in coming.
“Everyone is letting evidence slip away in the rain,” said Whisler, referring to heavy downpours in recent days that likely washed any dust into the soil and street gutters.
Hosting an emergency meeting of residents and government officials Oct. 1 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Catonsville, Whisler called for the Maryland Department of the Environment to test houses and other buildings near the 1505 N. Rolling Road construction site to determine the level of asbestos contamination, if any.
He commended the county and the site developer, Enterprise Homes, for halting a rock-crushing operation that generated the dust.
Enterprise ordered the work stopped Sept. 22, when tests showed asbestos was present in the rocks, according to company spokeswoman Amy Elias.
“What I’m not satisfied with is whether or not we have an adequate assessment of risk in adjacent homes, businesses and the grounds, streams and property that we all live on and use every single day,” Whisler said.
He asked that the state apply the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, which requires elementary and secondary schools to inspect their buildings for asbestos-containing building material and prepare plans to prevent or reduce asbestos hazards.
Asbestos can cause lung diseases, including cancer, if inhaled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Although the law does not apply to naturally occurring asbestos, as was found at the Enterprise Homes site, Whisler asked that the state hire independent contractors to inspect the site and the surrounding area.
About 85 to 100 people attended Whisler’s emergency community meeting, including guest speakers Jonas Jacobson, who directs the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management, and Angelo Bianca, deputy director of the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Air and Radiation Management Administration.
A Baltimore-based company, Enterprise broke ground July 17 for the $12-million, 83-unit project, which is due for completion by June.
Hord Coplan Macht Inc. is the architect; Whiting-Turner is the contractor.
user comments (0)
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement