LAUREL, Mont. - The four Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) buildings on the 300 block of East Main Street containing sleeping rooms for employees are scheduled for demolition later this summer, the Laurel Outlook reports.
According to a photograph caption in Elsie Johnston's book, Laurel's Story, A Montana Heritage, the BNSF sleeping room buildings were constructed in 1972.
Laurel Building Inspector Gary Colley said he was contacted earlier this spring by BNSF officials and told the company intended to remove some of its buildings on East Main this year, however, the BNSF has not applied for the required demolition permits yet.
Asbestos abatement workers with Horsley Specialties of Rapid City, S.D., began sealing the doors and windows on the sleeping rooms last Wednesday with orange-colored tape and posted asbestos warning signs on the doors of the rooms.
The signs read: "Danger Asbestos - Cancer and lung disease hazard - Authorized personnel only - Respirators and protective clothing are required in this area."
On Friday, the workers began removing shingles from the roof of one of the buildings and roped off the area around the building with a plastic yellow caution tape.
According to a statement issued by BNSF spokesperson Gus Melonas on Thursday, two of the buildings contain floor tiles believed to contain asbestos.
BNSF is working with the state and has acquired the necessary permits to remove the asbestos, Melonas told the Outlook. These former railroad crew facilities are obsolete and will be removed later this summer. We are removing asbestos tile from two of the facilities, he said.
John Podolinsky with the State Asbestos Removal and Disposal Program, told the Outlook Tuesday that the asbestos removal permit issued for the site specified two buildings believed to contain asbestos in sheet vinyl floor covering, floor tiles, asphalt shingles, caulking and insulation.
Podolinsky agreed with Melonas that the removal did not present a threat to the public or the environment. These contractors (Horsley Specialties) do a good job, and have a good reputation, he said.
All asbestos removal and disposal contractors must be permitted and licensed by the State and follow standard work process procedures. Podolinsky said his program issues permits for between 300-350 asbestos removal projects annually in the state.
The state of Montana identifies asbestos as the group of naturally occurring minerals that includes chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, actinolite, and tremolite. Asbestos ore is mined and added to many building products due to its fireproofing, chemically resistant, and insulating properties.
Asbestos has been used as a component in over 3,500 types of materials. Any material containing more than 1 percent asbestos is considered an asbestos containing material.
Most often, asbestos is found in thermal systems of homes and buildings, such as in pipe or boiler insulation, surfacing and fireproofing materials, and miscellaneous materials such as floor and ceiling tiles.
Asbestos is a human health concern because it is a carcinogen, meaning that it causes cancer. Asbestos fibers are very small, and under a microscope they have the appearance of sharp or curly needle-like strands.
Asbestos can be both inhaled and ingested. Both introductions to the body carry significant damage and long-term health concerns. Asbestos causes illnesses including asbestosis, mesothelioma, pleural plaques, lung cancer, and cancers of the digestive and urinary systems.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the membrane lining the chest and abdominal cavity and is specific to asbestos exposure. The asbestos fibers are inhaled and cause scarring of the linings. These scars eventually develop into cancer. There is no cure for mesothelioma.
The latency period for asbestos related illness is long, generally 10 to 30 years. Other factors can contribute to the likelihood of contracting an asbestos related illness. Smoking, for instance, can dramatically increase the chances that a patient will contract an asbestos related illness due to the diminished ability of the body to rid itself of fibers.
Owners or operators of structures that are suspected to contain asbestos material, regardless of its form, are required to enlist the assistance of a certified asbestos inspector. Any plan to demolish or renovate a structure requires an inspection of the area to determine whether there is asbestos containing material present and what is its condition.
