The Delta Cleaners Site, located in Delta County Colorado, includes a former three-story building that was previously a dry-cleaning business on the first floor and a residence on the second and third floors. The building was constructed in 1896.
On October 4, 2023,
the building suffered extensive fire damage. Firefighting activities included
the use of an excavator to push building debris to the center of the former
structure and to collapse the remaining walls left standing to minimize potential
safety hazards. Following the fire, samples were collected by a contractor on
behalf of the property owners due to suspected asbestos-containing materials
(ACM) located in the debris pile. Concentrations of
chrysotile asbestos ranged from trace levels to 20 percent. Notification of the
ACM was made to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
(CDPHE). CDPHE subsequently requested assistance from EPA to consider a removal
action to clean up the ACM-contaminated building debris.
The removal action will include the cleanup and proper disposal
of the asbestos containing material (ACM) contaminated debris. The EPA On-Scene
Coordinator and EPA's hazmat contractor will mobilize to the site the week of
June 17, 2024 and anticipate the cleanup will take 4 to 5 weeks to complete.
The ACM-contaminated debris will be kept wet whenever it is disturbed to
prevent any asbestos fibers from migrating.
Site Objectives
- Demolish building remnants
- Ensure harmful levels of particulates and/or suspect ACM do not migrate offsite
- Transport building debris as ACM to landfill
- Add backfill and grade to bring the ground-level back to the original elevation
Safety Message
- EPA will use best practices and engineering techniques for asbestos removal for all on site activities. The ACM-contaminated debris will be kept wet whenever it is disturbed to prevent any potential asbestos fibers from migrating. Rolloff containers will be lined with 6-millimeter plastic (double-lined). The waste will be loaded into the containers, covered with the plastic liners, and sealed. The waste will be delivered to the Mesa County landfill which is permitted to accept ACM.
- 3rd Street (between Main Street and Meeker Street) will be closed with access restricted to truckers for the load-out and transport of ACM debris to the landfill. Traffic barricades are provided by the City. The road closure is required to ensure the safety of the public during the demolition part of the project.
- EPA will conduct air sampling for asbestos fibers throughout the cleanup. We will post that information on this website.
- The work schedule will be Mondays through Saturdays, not including 4th of July weekend.
