EPA moves to block “gagging dust” at Lorain High School demolition site.
Residents, and others in the Cleveland town have been enduring the dust and aggravation almost since the demolition began in July. Conditions worsened in the past few weeks after brick walls were turned into huge piles of debris.
Much of the blame for the unacceptable conditions have been directed at DEM/EX, the Illinois company running the demolition effort along with its subcontractors. Thursday, an Ohio EPA inspector gave the contractors working on the site a warning about the dust problem. The EPA is considering whether to impose other sanctions.
Apparently, the contractor had previously complained fire hydrants in the area were frozen and couldn’t be used. However, an EPA official noted correctly, “If it can’t be done right it shouldn’t be done.”
The city received complaints about the dust on Monday evening and talked to contractors on the job site the next day, advising them to get the dust under control, Contractors said they were days away from completing the project. Fortunately, the Ohio EPA said all asbestos was removed from the building before demolition began.
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