Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

During the excavation of concrete waste collection tanks at Sackets Sewage Plant in Sackets Harbor, New York, asbestos coated pipe was found which will slow down progress until proper removal and disposal can occur.

 

Asbestos-cement (A-C) pipe was first introduced to America in 1931. It was widely used in sewage treatment plants and water mains because of its durability and insulating properties. If asbestos intact and in good condition, it does not pose a threat to public health. However, if the pipe becomes friable, then fibers can become airborne. Friable asbestos is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as materials that can be “crumbled, pulverized or reduced to a powder” by hand. Once friable, asbestos can be inhaled and many years later cause serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer. 

 

Due to the hazards of asbestos, the Asbestos National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) established requirements for the proper handling, removal and disposal of regulated asbestos containing cement pipes in 1990.   In the case of Sackets Sewage, blasting at the new sewage treatment facility site on Hill Street disturbed asbestos coated cement pipe and will now require approval from the Department of Labor to remove and dispose of the contaminated materials safely and according to environmental regulations.

 

The discovery and subsequent need to remove the asbestos coated pipe will increase the budget for the project however should not delay progress significantly.