Investigation Into Auburn City Asbestos Dumping -- MesoLink.org -- 07-31-06

It has been reported that state and federal investigators are looking into the possibility that asbestos has been illegally dumped in an Auburn City landfill by Cayuga County officials. The asbestos materials are said to have been removed from the county’s Board of Elections building.

Further controversy has arisen because it has also come to light that workers in the building may have been exposed to asbestos for around a month before being notified. Contractors were replacing a faulty boiler when they removed the asbestos materials in February.

Investigators into the illegal dumping are now looking into whether proper notification was given to authorities with regards to the disposal of the toxic material at the landfill. Officials state that checking records will show whether safety procedures and proper protocol were followed by the county.

Officials went on to say that the county should have submitted a removal plan for the asbestos to the EPA before any material was removed, and at least twenty-four hours notice needed to be given in order to dump the materials at the site.