Wilton, Maine - Area residents are breathing a sigh of relief now that asbestos removal at the old Wilton, Maine textile mill has begun in earnest, notes a story in the Kennebec Journal.
According to the article, after more than a year of struggles with errant owners and improper abatement of the material, it looks like the job is progressing and the end is in sight. That's good news for state and federal officials who've been trying to bring the site into compliance, as well as for area residents who've worried constantly about the effects of asbestos exposure. Asbestos, a known carcinogen, can cause a host of respiratory diseases, including mesothelioma cancer.
Despite the good news, however, the article notes that the owner of the company that's currently involved in the asbestos removal project is calling the site the worst he's seen in more than 30 years. He says he understands why locals were – and continue to be – upset.
"I've done over 10,000 projects. This is the worst that's ever been seen," Bob Rickett, owner of Abatement Professionals, said earlier this week. "This is the absolute worst."
Rickett was hired by the property owner, Adam Mack of Wilton Recycling, to complete an abatement job that began last August. That's when contractor Ryan Blyther started the process but was stopped when it was clear that he wasn't following the proper procedure for handling asbestos. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has since accused Blyther of endangering human health by ripping out asbestos-containing sheets of insulation and merely discarding them on the property, allowing for fibers from damaged asbestos to circulate through the air.
"It's the smaller fibers that you can't see that are the problem," confirmed Rickett, whose company is licensed in the proper removal of the dangerous material, which is found in old textile mills throughout the country. Asbestos was commonly used in building materials prior to 1980 and factories made abundant use of these products due to asbestos' fire proof qualities and its durability.
"Blyther was more concerned about the value of what was underneath this material, which was the steel for the piping. Where it landed was where it sat. It was dragged around everywhere," Rickett said.
Now, his workers, armed with hazmat suits and respirators, are picking up the larger pieces and cleaning the inside of the building with vacuums designed to leave nothing behind. "The EPA will come in and test the air quality, inspect it, clear it, and then we'll be out of there," Rickett confirmed.
