Called the "Gateway to the Catskills," the picturesque Village of Monticello in New York is embroiled in an asbestos controversy stemming from a demolition project that has already seen six construction workers arrested by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation [DEC]. Though halted, the demolition of the Monticello Justice Court will eventually make room for a new youth center.
Since the demolition project is for the village, Monticello is responsible for abating two illegal piles of asbestos debris removed from the Justice Court. One pile of asbestos debris was dumped next to Village Hall, and the other was dumped behind a local propane business.
According to the New York State Department of Labor [DOL], Monticello must apply for a special, separate permit to abate or remove the asbestos pile from next to Village Hall. In conjunction with the asbestos debris dumped behind the propane business, six men have been arrested by the DEC. Mike Soto, one of the six men arrested, was hired by the Village as a contractor on the demolition project.
In an emergency town hall meeting held on Wednesday afternoon, Tom Fuller, Village Engineer fielded questions regarding the bungled demolition project. Admitting that the Village was aware of the presence of asbestos or asbestos-containing products in the Justice Court eighteen months before the demolition was slated to begin, Fuller also acknowledged that the extent of asbestos in the building was minimal. Once the asbestos was removed from the building and dumped into a pile of construction waste, the entire pile was considered contaminated by asbestos.
Fuller also admitted that he was not sure whether the Justice Court was abated before the demolition began. Abating asbestos or removing any hazardous materials is often the initial step in any demolition project. Removing all asbestos from a demolition site ensures that the lethal material does not become disrupted, contaminating the air. Breathing in small particles of asbestos or asbestos dust can lead to mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that can affect the protective lining surrounding the lungs, heart or stomach.
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