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Towaoc Recreation Center

 
Site Contact:
Paul Peronard
On-Scene Coordinator

(peronard.paul@epa.gov)

Site Location:
495 Sunset Boulevard
Towaoc, CO 81334
 response.epa.gov/TowaocRecCenter

The Towaoc Recreation Center is located on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in southwest Colorado. The facility recently suffered water damage and, during the subsequent repair work, Libby vermiculite and other asbestos containing materials were released into the environment. After discovering that the repair activity led to widespread asbestos contamination, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe requested EPA’s assistance in remedying the situation. EPA mobilized personnel and equipment to respond to this request.

EPA deployed an On-Scene Coordinator, ERRS construction crew and START technical support team to the Site on April 17, 2017. The goals of this effort are to remove the exposed Libby vermiculite and asbestos containing materials, clean the asbestos-contaminated dust and repair/seal the damaged asbestos containing materials that will be left in place. The Tribe has indicated that they will perform the building restoration and re-open the facility once EPA's efforts are complete.


EPA's Command Post outside Towaoc Recreation Center. EPA's On Scene Coordinator and a representative of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe discussing site operations. Air Sampling being conducted on exhaust of Negative Air Machine. Interior recreation room prior to the removal of contaminated dust. Interior recreation room prior to the removal of contaminated dust. Interior exercise room prior to the removal of contaminated dust. Interior gym prior to the removal of contaminated dust. Interior empty pool prior to the removal of contaminated dust. Microvacuum sampling inside HVAC system. Removal of ceiling tiles contaminated with vermiculite. Removal of ceiling tiles to begin removal of contaminated dust. Vermiculite and other debris which fell after removal of a ceiling tile. Attic space with fiber glass insulation and vermiculite located above the gym. Personnel observing gaps from attic into gym. Vermiculite located in attic space. Exposed fire proofing under gym. Staging of ceiling tiles next to negative air machine for off-site disposal. Decontamination trailer connected to doorway of the facility and Connex Storage Box. Ceiling tiles and asbestos containing materials removed from exercise room. Sampling of HVAC ducting. Chute from attic to gym floor for removal of contaminated material. Crew double bagging contaminated material from gym attic. Hurricane HEPA Vac ERRS contractor vacuuming vermiculite out of the gymnasium attic. START contractor microvac sampling the HVAC in the pool attic area from a damaged section of piping Portion of the gym attic that has had bulk removal of vermiculite. ERRS contractor vacuuming vermiculite in the gym attic. Air sampling location Southwest of the site between the vacuum and the nearby Early Childhood Development Center. Gym attic vermiculite insulation removal. Bulk removal completed on right and to be removed on the left. Gym attic area to be addressed with HVAC piping over insulation. Existing gym attic HVAC. Gym attic insulation staged for disposal. Material is bagged, removed form attic via the slide, and double bagged.. On Scene Coordinator - news interview. Photo Credit: Jim Mimiaga Foam board and spray foam sealant installed to seal the eastern hall from the attic space. Exterior photo on negative air setup at the northern end of the main hallway. HVAC duct work, opened for cleaning in the gymnasium attic. Existing HVAC duct work in the gym attic, in found condition. Removing duct insulation from pool attic Negative air machine setup at the northern end of the main hallway in the building. Man lift in pool removing acoustic panels. Floor of attic post removal. Scissor lift in gym removing acoustic panels. Attic post removal. Pool post-removal of acoustic panels. Top side of acoustic panel removed from pool ceiling. Frame work left in place from acoustic panel removal. Area of fireproofing insulation previously exposed, now sealed in place into the wall under the gym.
For additional information, visit the Notices section.