Asbestos Material Dumped in Swanton Area Woods; Ohio EPA Seeks Information to Nab Dumper
WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 20, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — A large quantity of pipe insulation containing asbestos was illegally dumped on a property near Swanton last fall. Ohio EPA is seeking assistance from anyone who may have seen activity at the dump site or at an area commercial or school building.
The material was discovered in November 2012 on a residential property in the mid-10,000 block of Stateline Road, west of Nature Conservancy property. There is an unoccupied residence on the approximately 10-acre parcel.
The pipe insulation probably was used on heating system pipe of approximately eight inches in diameter. It is possible that the pipe was removed or stolen from a building by people looking for scrap metal.
The insulation contains friable (easily crumbled) asbestos. Friable asbestos fibers can become airborne and when inhaled deeply into the lungs can cause serious health problems. Because of the significant health risks, asbestos is a highly regulated material with special handling and disposal requirements.
An Ohio EPA investigation is underway. The Agency believes someone may have seen trucks entering the property to dump the material, or may know of a building where scrappers removed heating and air conditioning pipes.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Rick Hassinger at Ohio EPA’s Northwest District Office in Bowling Green at (419) 352-8461 or (800) 686-6930.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1972 to consolidate efforts to protect and improve air quality, water quality and waste management in Ohio. In the past 40 years, air pollutants dropped by as much as 90 percent; large rivers meeting standards improved from 21 percent to 89 percent; and hundreds of polluting, open dumps were replaced with engineered landfills and an increased emphasis on waste reduction and recycling. Ohio EPA….40 years and moving forward.
Contact:
PUBLIC INTEREST CENTER: (614) 644-2160
MEDIA CONTACT: Dina Pierce
dina.pierce (at) epa.ohio (dot) gov
CITIZEN CONTACT: Darla Peelle
darla.peelle (at) epa.ohio (dot) gov
