SILVER CITY, N.M. (AP) - The town of Silver
City is getting a loan from the state Environment Department to clean
up asbestos at an old hospital building.
The 342-thousand-dollar loan was approved earlier this month through a revolving cleanup fund.
That fund lets the department provide low-interest loans to public, nonprofit and private entities for environmental cleanup.
It’s the first time the Environment Department has issued such a loan.
Silver City’s former Hillcrest Hospital is contaminated by materials that contain asbestos.
It’s also contaminated with lead-based paint and pigeon droppings that have accumulated since the hospital moved 25 years ago.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)