EPA shuts down demolition of former Goodyear plant.
“That’s the Worst We’ve Ever Seen.” That was the comment yesterday from EPA officials, when they inspected suspected asbestos contamination of the former Goodyear Building (KI Building) located at 200 Commerce Drive in Madisonville.
SurfKY News met with city officials Thursday afternoon about the situation at the building, which has been designated a “Hot Spot” by the EPA.
Mayor David Jackson and city officials have been in touch with EPA officials today to get a better understanding of danger to the public.
“Our main concern is whether there is any danger to people or surrounding properties or ambient air at risk,” said Jackson. “The (EPA) answer was that even with heavy wind from the expected storms, there is no air quality eminent risk to the public offsite or adjoining property.”
Jackson was meeting with department heads to establish response protocols in the event an emergency occurs on the site. Wallace noted that firefighters may not be allowed to respond to the building in the event of a fire on site.
“We want to keep city employees safe,” Jackson said. The safety of S&S Salvage, LLC employees is in question.
Frank Wallace, City of Madisonville Building official, said that he saw no evidence of employees being protected from the asbestos they were working in. Wallace said that employees were walking in four to six inches of friable asbestos as they were dismantling the boilers.
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