Asbestos Released by Colorado Contractor

A local contractor recently released large amounts of asbestos fibers into the air in the Lowry neighborhood between Denver and Aurora earlier this month.

Reports say that the construction contractor was digging near a community garden when he accidentally released the asbestos into the air.

Inspectors Catch the Release

As the asbestos was being released into the air, inspectors from the Colorado Department
Of Public Health and Environment became aware of the mistake.

When inspectors did a detailed search of the land surrounding the garden, they found several chunks of asbestos lying on the ground.

The contractor had reportedly been working in the area and unknowingly releasing the asbestos for approximately three hours before the investigators arrived.

Contractor in Violation of Asbestos Policies

According to state officials, the contractor was in violation of the state policy that prohibits any construction at Lowry without a certified asbestos spotter on site.

“This is why we have the concern, why we have spotters out there, so we know exactly what is in the trucks and what could have been removed,” explains Jeff Edson, spokesman for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Since no air monitors were present at the time of the release, the health risks to those in the surrounding communities is unclear at this point.

The health department has ordered Lowry Assumption to notify those in the area about the release and submit a clean-up plan to the state’s health department.

(Source: CBS4 Denver)

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