Cleanup for asbestos-contaminated buildings estimated in the millions

Arkansas – What outsiders saw as a blessing is not viewed as the same for people associated with the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority.

The job of destroying many buildings which had been slated for destruction has been taken cared of by a grassfire at Chaffee Crossing. What started out as a grassfire resulted in 100 acres of land being engulfed in flames. About 150 old buildings were reduced to ashes and debris. The cost to demolish each building would have been around $15,000.

However, executive director of the fort, Ivy Owen, is not happy with the occurrence that took place. Asbestos had been used in the buildings’ infrastructure and the cost of properly containing and removing the hazardous debris is estimated to be in the millions.

The county court has already declared the site a disaster area. Owen hopes the state Department of Environmental Management will say the same. If so, Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority will be eligible for reimbursement for the cleanup from state funds.

State disaster assistance is provided if cleanup costs are over $212,000 and federal assistance will be included if the costs are estimated to be over $3.3 million. Owen says they desperately need the federal government’s help since the state will only cover up to 35 percent of the cleanup cost.

All 100 acres of contaminated land have been fenced off and wet weather conditions have help prevent the debris from being scattered by winds, but officials are in the process of preparing for when conditions become dry again.

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