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‘White suits' return to North Ridge
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| H&N photos by Steve Kadel Environmental Protection Agency contract workers measure a plot where asbestos is believed to be buried. They use a geoprobe to take core samples from the earth. |
June 21, 2006
By STEVE KADEL
H&N Staff Writer
Gail and Dennis Bailey treasure the view from their log home three miles northeast of Klamath Falls.
Deer often trot past the house, and a bobcat came calling two weeks ago. It's their dream home and nothing can make them leave.
Not even asbestos.
Chunks of asbestos the size of silver dollars still sit atop the couple's front yard just feet from the deck. The toxic material is scattered throughout North Ridge subdivision.
“The fact we love the spot outweighs the risk,” Gail said. “We don't feel as concerned as other people.”
Gail, 57, is a cook at Conger Elementary School. Dennis, 53, teaches at Mazama High School. Their grandchildren play outside during occasional visits.
“We don't let them chew it,” Gail joked of the lingering asbestos. Turning serious, she said the children usually stay on the deck and are told not to pick up asbestos if they venture farther.
The Baileys aren't the only ones willing to remain in the subdivision while the Environmental Protection Agency cleanup continues.
“Friends and people we talk to have no qualms,” Gail said.
The couple's house was half built when asbestos was discovered at North Ridge about four years ago.
“We saw people in white suits,” Gail said, “but we weren't about to give up on our dream.”
White suits
The white suits were back Tuesday. Personnel from CDM of Denver, Colo., specially trained to handle asbestos, donned Tyvek coveralls and used an excavator to find out how deep asbestos was buried behind the Bailey home.
Other workers located known asbestos dump sites, then took core samples from several distances to see how far away the material was buried.
They're filling in gaps in data to help devise a final cleanup plan, EPA program manager Alan Goodman said. The plan should be finalized by late next summer.
On Tuesday, 21 contract workers from Parametrix of Portland and CDM worked the land. Three EPA specialists from Seattle and three from the agency's Las Vegas emergency response team were there, too.
Goodman said this summer's work centers on areas away from houses. The initial cleanup targeted homes' lawns to lower the threat to those living there.
“It could be anywhere,” Goodman said of asbestos. “It's here in significant quantities and it's extremely widespread.”
The asbestos was in boards on walls of three military barracks used several decades ago. The barracks were torn down, but the asbestos wasn't removed.
$11 million settlement
In January, a federal court in Eugene approved an $11 million settlement in the lawsuit residents filed against North Ridge developer MBK. Of the 22 homes in North Ridge, owners of all but four have taken settlement money and moved away.
The vacant houses are held in receivership by Dan Silver of Washington state. The North Ridge Receivership holds title to the properties and is charged with maintaining the homes' value until EPA decides how to dispose of them.
There is a caretaker on site and security measures against vandalism are in place.
The goal is to completely clean the subdivision and sell the homes, Goodman said. Proceeds from sales would pay for the cleanup.
“We're hoping they will be sufficient for that,” he said.
The cost of cleaning North Ridge won't be known until after this summer's investigation.
Residents who are staying believe the subdivision poses little threat now, and will be thoroughly cleaned by EPA.
“We put our trust in the government,” Gail Bailey said. “We really do.”
By STEVE KADEL
H&N Staff Writer
Gail and Dennis Bailey treasure the view from their log home three miles northeast of Klamath Falls.
Deer often trot past the house, and a bobcat came calling two weeks ago. It's their dream home and nothing can make them leave.
Not even asbestos.
Chunks of asbestos the size of silver dollars still sit atop the couple's front yard just feet from the deck. The toxic material is scattered throughout North Ridge subdivision.
“The fact we love the spot outweighs the risk,” Gail said. “We don't feel as concerned as other people.”
Gail, 57, is a cook at Conger Elementary School. Dennis, 53, teaches at Mazama High School. Their grandchildren play outside during occasional visits.
“We don't let them chew it,” Gail joked of the lingering asbestos. Turning serious, she said the children usually stay on the deck and are told not to pick up asbestos if they venture farther.
The Baileys aren't the only ones willing to remain in the subdivision while the Environmental Protection Agency cleanup continues.
“Friends and people we talk to have no qualms,” Gail said.
The couple's house was half built when asbestos was discovered at North Ridge about four years ago.
“We saw people in white suits,” Gail said, “but we weren't about to give up on our dream.”
White suits
The white suits were back Tuesday. Personnel from CDM of Denver, Colo., specially trained to handle asbestos, donned Tyvek coveralls and used an excavator to find out how deep asbestos was buried behind the Bailey home.
Other workers located known asbestos dump sites, then took core samples from several distances to see how far away the material was buried.
They're filling in gaps in data to help devise a final cleanup plan, EPA program manager Alan Goodman said. The plan should be finalized by late next summer.
On Tuesday, 21 contract workers from Parametrix of Portland and CDM worked the land. Three EPA specialists from Seattle and three from the agency's Las Vegas emergency response team were there, too.
Goodman said this summer's work centers on areas away from houses. The initial cleanup targeted homes' lawns to lower the threat to those living there.
“It could be anywhere,” Goodman said of asbestos. “It's here in significant quantities and it's extremely widespread.”
The asbestos was in boards on walls of three military barracks used several decades ago. The barracks were torn down, but the asbestos wasn't removed.
$11 million settlement
In January, a federal court in Eugene approved an $11 million settlement in the lawsuit residents filed against North Ridge developer MBK. Of the 22 homes in North Ridge, owners of all but four have taken settlement money and moved away.
The vacant houses are held in receivership by Dan Silver of Washington state. The North Ridge Receivership holds title to the properties and is charged with maintaining the homes' value until EPA decides how to dispose of them.
There is a caretaker on site and security measures against vandalism are in place.
The goal is to completely clean the subdivision and sell the homes, Goodman said. Proceeds from sales would pay for the cleanup.
“We're hoping they will be sufficient for that,” he said.
The cost of cleaning North Ridge won't be known until after this summer's investigation.
Residents who are staying believe the subdivision poses little threat now, and will be thoroughly cleaned by EPA.
“We put our trust in the government,” Gail Bailey said. “We really do.”
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| Street construction to begin |
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