Slated for Demolition, MA Town Offices Must Undergo $100,000 Worth of Asbestos Abatement

In what may seem like a backwards move to some, the town of Berkley, located in Massachusetts, must spend $100,000 to safely remove asbestos materials from the town offices before moving forward with the scheduled demolition. To keep construction workers and the community safe, and to follow state and federal regulations, the town must safely remove the toxic material. According to a recent environmental assessment of the building, virtually every room and material contains some form of asbestos. In short, the asbestos is "everywhere," said Paul Modlowski, executive secretary for Berkley. The abundance of the asbestos is not all that surprising considering the vintage of the building. Before the sweeping bans on the use and application of asbestos, the material could be found in a variety of products. Namely found in building and plumbing materials, asbestos was used widely in products for insulation and heat resistance. Plumbing insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, siding and drywall are common products that include some form of asbestos. The danger with asbestos – and the main reason for the widespread ban on its use – is that it is a carcinogen or a cancer-causing agent. Exposure to asbestos can lead to lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that can affect the lining of the lungs, heart or stomach. Properly removing or abating the asbestos ensures that the material does not pose a health threat. Improper removal of asbestos can lead to contamination. Due to the current condition of the town offices, parts have already been condemned. Already in the preliminary stages, Berkley will put out a request for proposals or RFPs in the next two weeks for contractors to safely abate the asbestos, remove any other environmentally hazardous materials and generally prepare the building to be demolished. The town will ask for bids for the new buildings in January 2014. Replacing the deteriorating Berkley town offices will be a $3.5 million town hall. Construction on the new facility is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2014 and will take over a year to complete.

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