December 31st, 2007

A New York forging plant that was scheduled for demolition is now sitting unused after the building was found to contain asbestos. The demolition was going to cost the city nothing, but the discovery of asbestos may now cost millions.

When a decommissioned forging plant in New York was slated for demolition, the work was going to be at no cost to the village. But when asbestos was found in the old plant, demolition was halted and funding for the removal of the dangerous substance had to be discussed. The removal of asbestos from the forging plant could cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars and may delay demolition by more than a year. The building was condemned after a fire ravaged it in 2000, and has been a burden to the village since then.

While demolition costs could have been covered by salvaged aluminum and tin, the asbestos removal must be funded. Asbestos removal is expensive, since licensed professionals under controlled circumstances must complete it. Asbestos can become deadly if removed improperly, since the material can break apart and become airborne. Fragmented asbestos that is breathed in can result in asbestosis, emphysema and mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer. Mesothelioma can take decades to develop, and is often fatal at the time of detection.