No Asbestos In Dearborn, States EPA -- MesoLink.org -- 10-26-05

The Environmental Protection Agency has found that there is no asbestos contamination in the residential areas of Dearborn, having conducted recent tests and investigations in these areas. The contaminated land that was once the site of the WR Grace facility has been cleaned up, and the EPA have assured residents that there is no contamination in the residential areas.

Meetings were held earlier in the year to discuss the project. During investigations contaminated soil was found at the former Grace site, but following a clean up of this area and adjoining land the EPA has stated that there is no further cause for concern.

Grace operated a vermiculite site in the area from the 1950s until the late 1980s, where materials containing asbestos were produced. Some of the local yards in the area were also investigated by the EPA in case materials from the Grace site has been used to fill the yards or driveways.

A spokesperson stated: "Over the course of the project, EPA visited 1,030 homes and businesses, conducted 258 interviews, inspected 163 yards and sampled 50 yards. We are especially grateful to the Arab Community Center and our other local partners that helped us reach out to residents who are not native English-speakers."