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Asbestos puts construction on hold

By Kelly Herrera
kherrer7@mscd.edu

The construction of the new science building on campus has been delayed due to the discovery of old industrial building material containing asbestos.

The opening of the building, originally scheduled for the fall 2009 semester, will be delayed two four months.

Construction has been suspended until the site is cleared of the material, as required by the State of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

“At this time we believe it may take until the end of March to complete the removal,” said Joyce Carnes, project manager.

Asbestos is the common name for fireproof silicate minerals formerly used for their insulating qualities. However, the tendency of the long, thread-like fibers to imbed themselves in lung tissue makes the material hazardous.

No workers at the site have been exposed to asbestos because it is in a form contained in material that doesn’t easily separate, which prevents it from being released in the air. If the asbestos was released, it could cause anyone inhaling the fibers to get asbestosis (thickening and scarring of lung tissue) and cancer of the lung, intestines or liver.

“The workers wear protective equipment as a precaution. The air immediately around the workers is monitored, as well as the air at various locations on the site,” Carnes said.

Clay Dotlich, a worker for the Haseldon Construction Company at the site, isn’t too worried about the recent discovery of asbestos.

“The danger from the asbestos is not that bad,” Dotlich said. “It’s so low; I guess they said it’s worse in downtown Denver and what’s in the air here normally.”

An on-site abatement contractor will remove soil around any building materials containing asbestos. The soil is being handled and disposed of per state regulations, Carnes said.

Although cost estimates for the cleanup are not final, Carnes said Auraria is looking at more than $1 million to rid the site of asbestos.

The problem resulted from materials buried prior to the development of Auraria in the 1970s, Auraria officials said.

According to Auraria administration, the use of proper abatement procedure should prevent students, faculty, staff and the public from exposure to airborne asbestos during the removal process.