Complete ROD Worked by EPA, TAG

Article Added May 3rd, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

Gaps in scientific data involving vermiculite clean up may be closer to being eliminated. A more complete record of decision by the EPA would follow the request by the Technical Assistance Group.

By asking for more science, TAG may be one step closer to closing the gaps involving asbestos clean up, and may even result in a complete renovation of the EPA record of decision. Members of the EPA’s region 8 management team as well as a council of TAG members participated in a teleconference on Monday to discuss the short comings. A baseline risk assessment, clean-up and record of decision by the EPA was felt to be rushed to completion, possibly resulting in ignoring the change of asbestos-tainted vermiculite and its health impact.

The concern arose over the toxicity of vermiculite, a type of asbestos that can be seen but cannot be detected with air testing. The push attempted to get the EPA to reconsider the affect of this asbestos as a health risk. Short fiber asbestos are also a point of interest, considering that the EPA has only concerned themselves with asbestos fibers 5 microns or longer. Short fibers, though, are the asbestos fibers that most often lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer which is the result of asbestos exposure.

Article Added May 3rd, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story