The discovery of additional asbestos along with requests that work only be conducted between the hours of 7:30 and 3:30 at the parking garage in Hicksville, New York cited for demolition will delay the project for approximately two more months.
The additional asbestos was said to be found in four of the structures stairwells and in material used for waterproofing in the underground area of the garage. Following the discovery experts were hired to closer examine the materials and an asbestos abatement plan was formed and later approved by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Exposure to asbestos-containing materials has been known to lead to a range of health problems including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Due to the long latency period of such diseases treatment options are often very limited by the time diagnosis occurs. Such diseases are often fatal only a short time following initial diagnosis.
Certified asbestos removal crews will remove the asbestos and transport the dangerous materials safely to a disposal site. Following the removal of the asbestos located in the stairwells they will be demolished and the remainder of the asbestos in the underground portion of the structure will be dug out and the whole filled. Residents feel that because their safety is at hand the project should not be rushed. The completion date for the project has now been moved to January 16, 2009.
