Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is set to begin asbestos abatement at the abandoned Gateway Community Hospital in East St. Louis. The St. Clair County Board officially approved the contracts in a meeting Monday, October 26, 2009.
The following article concerning the job was published in the “Belleville News-Democrat”. The article was written by MIKE FITZGERALD.
Long tagged as an eyesore, abandoned hospital to be torn down
BY MIKE FITZGERALD - News-Democrat
BELLEVILLE -- The abandoned Gateway Community Hospital, long tagged as one of the worst eyesores in East St. Louis, is set to come down soon and possibly be replaced with a park, thanks to a vote Monday night by the St. Clair County Board.
The County Board approved two contracts worth nearly $623,000 with contractors to tear out and dispose of asbestos from the condemned building at 1509 Martin Luther King Drive and then demolish it and cart away the rubble.
"It'll be a great improvement for the city of East St. Louis," St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said.
Champion Environmental Services Inc., of Gilberts, won a county contract for $317,500 to remove and dump the building's asbestos, the contract shows.
Ahrens Contracting Inc., of St. Louis, won a contract worth $305,335 to raze the building, according to the contract.
Since its closure 20 years ago, the abandoned hospital has stood as one of this city's biggest and worst eyesores -- a magnet for rats, vandals and complaints, especially from parishioners at St. Joseph Catholic Church next door.
In March, the County Board agreed to pay a flat fee of $55,000 to SCI Engineering Inc., of St. Charles, Mo., to oversee the hiring of contractors to search for and remove asbestos from the building, and to tear down the structure.
Since autumn 2000, the old hospital had been condemned after East St. Louis city inspectors designated it unsafe.
Contact reporter Mike Fitzgerald at mfitzgerald@bnd.com or 239-2533.
Showing posts with label environmental consultant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environmental consultant. Show all posts
Monday, November 2, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Ottawa, Illinois Asbestos Job Finished
Champion Environmental Services, Inc., Project Manager Ralph Nordyke reports that the asbestos abatement of a shuttered bank in Ottawa, Illinois has been successfully closed out on time and without incident.
The project, taking little more than a week, included the removal of contaminated floor tile, mastic underlay, and transite. Champion Environmental Services, Inc., follows all applicable Illinois EPA rules for asbestos abatement delegated through the authority of the USEPA which enforces the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). NESHAP regulates asbestos during demolition, renovation, and disposal.
The ACM removal was performed in preparation for demolition; the cleared land will be used to build a new Ottawa health care facility.
The project, taking little more than a week, included the removal of contaminated floor tile, mastic underlay, and transite. Champion Environmental Services, Inc., follows all applicable Illinois EPA rules for asbestos abatement delegated through the authority of the USEPA which enforces the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). NESHAP regulates asbestos during demolition, renovation, and disposal.
The ACM removal was performed in preparation for demolition; the cleared land will be used to build a new Ottawa health care facility.
Monday, March 30, 2009
The Building Material Reuse Association (BMRA) Conference “DECON '09”
Champion Environmental Services, Inc. will be making a presentation at The Building Material Reuse Association (BMRA) Conference “DECON '09” on April 29, 2009.
Terrence O’Rourke will be reporting on two successful large scale demolition projects in Wisconsin that yielded high recycling rates. The focus of the presentation will resolve some of the concerns of “demolition” versus “deconstruction” practices. Conference attendees will come to recognize that successful demolition practices employ deconstruction techniques.
The difference between demolition and deconstruction points to preconceived linguistic associations; deconstruction is a word which evokes a notion of a controlled, clean, more environmentally friendly approach to resolving old building material salvage whereas demolition suggests harsh imagery of reckless destruction.
Ultimately, conference attendees will understand that companies such as Champion Environmental Services, Inc., have acted as stewards of the environment long before movements toward green initiatives took hold in America.
Terrence O’Rourke will be reporting on two successful large scale demolition projects in Wisconsin that yielded high recycling rates. The focus of the presentation will resolve some of the concerns of “demolition” versus “deconstruction” practices. Conference attendees will come to recognize that successful demolition practices employ deconstruction techniques.
The difference between demolition and deconstruction points to preconceived linguistic associations; deconstruction is a word which evokes a notion of a controlled, clean, more environmentally friendly approach to resolving old building material salvage whereas demolition suggests harsh imagery of reckless destruction.
Ultimately, conference attendees will understand that companies such as Champion Environmental Services, Inc., have acted as stewards of the environment long before movements toward green initiatives took hold in America.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
What is Asbestos?
Champion Environmental Services, Inc. has been responding to an increasing number of phone calls in our office from building owners seeking guidance as to what is asbestos, what hazards are associated with the substance, and what should be done when the material is discovered.
The information presented here is meant as a brief overview of a very complex issue that has influenced legal and ethical considerations worldwide. This information should not be used for guidance in addressing a perceived asbestos problem. Perform proper due diligence by researching all OSHA, EPA, Federal, state, local, and site-specific rules and regulations. Directly consult the professionals to ensure your issue in adequately addressed. The recent trial in Libby, Montana involving the W.R. Grace & Company is a mere blip on the radar of actionable cases across the globe.
The etymology of asbestos has two derived meanings from the Greek ἄσβεστος; according to the Oxford English Dictionary, asbestos is an adjective meaning inextinguishable or unquenchable. Asbestos has properties that made the substance an attractive product to manufacturers and builders in the late 19th century as it is resistance to heat, electricity and chemical damage while providing sound absorption and tensile strength.
Asbestos may be present in a number of building materials according to the EPA, including, but not limited to: joint compound, vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives, roofing tars, felts, siding, and shingles, fireproofing, caulk, brake pads/shoes, fire blankets, fire door, pipe insulation, concrete, and interior fire doors.
As stated on the EPA web site, asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers that may become airborne when asbestos- containing materials (ACM) are damaged or disturbed. When these fibers get into the air they may be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems.
Major health problems associated with long term exposure to asbestos includes,
Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
Due to the significant health risks associated with long term contact with airborne asbestos fibers, it is essential that prior to any major renovation project or demolition job, that a comprehensive NESHAP Asbestos Survey be completed by a professionally licensed environmental consultant company.
NESHAP stands for National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Prior to any demolition or renovation in a commercial or public building, government regulations state that an asbestos survey must be completed. A licensed inspector will perform the sampling and create a user-friendly report to identify whether the materials tested positive or negative for asbestos containing materials (ACM).
All samples are analyzed by a licensed analyst from an independent third party laboratory which is accredited by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and takes part in the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP).
Only an experienced, licensed, and professional contractor such as Champion Environmental Services, Inc. should remove identified contaminants. If you suspect asbestos is present prior to a project, contact a local environmental consultant who can properly advise you as to how the “hot spots” should be dealt with.
Despite a number of bans and regulatory measure across the globe, asbestos still maintains an active foothold in the mining industry. According to the British Geological Survey on world mineral production for 2002-2006 released in 2008, 2,300,000 tons of asbestos was mined worldwide [Link to the report: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/3260/2/FINAL_WMP_2002_2006_COMPLETE_WEB.pdf].
Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is pleased to be recognized as a trusted entity acting as a steward of the people and environment in an attempt to create a cleaner, healthier, safer environment for generations to come.
The information presented here is meant as a brief overview of a very complex issue that has influenced legal and ethical considerations worldwide. This information should not be used for guidance in addressing a perceived asbestos problem. Perform proper due diligence by researching all OSHA, EPA, Federal, state, local, and site-specific rules and regulations. Directly consult the professionals to ensure your issue in adequately addressed. The recent trial in Libby, Montana involving the W.R. Grace & Company is a mere blip on the radar of actionable cases across the globe.
The etymology of asbestos has two derived meanings from the Greek ἄσβεστος; according to the Oxford English Dictionary, asbestos is an adjective meaning inextinguishable or unquenchable. Asbestos has properties that made the substance an attractive product to manufacturers and builders in the late 19th century as it is resistance to heat, electricity and chemical damage while providing sound absorption and tensile strength.
Asbestos may be present in a number of building materials according to the EPA, including, but not limited to: joint compound, vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives, roofing tars, felts, siding, and shingles, fireproofing, caulk, brake pads/shoes, fire blankets, fire door, pipe insulation, concrete, and interior fire doors.
As stated on the EPA web site, asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers that may become airborne when asbestos- containing materials (ACM) are damaged or disturbed. When these fibers get into the air they may be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems.
Major health problems associated with long term exposure to asbestos includes,
Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
Due to the significant health risks associated with long term contact with airborne asbestos fibers, it is essential that prior to any major renovation project or demolition job, that a comprehensive NESHAP Asbestos Survey be completed by a professionally licensed environmental consultant company.
NESHAP stands for National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Prior to any demolition or renovation in a commercial or public building, government regulations state that an asbestos survey must be completed. A licensed inspector will perform the sampling and create a user-friendly report to identify whether the materials tested positive or negative for asbestos containing materials (ACM).
All samples are analyzed by a licensed analyst from an independent third party laboratory which is accredited by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and takes part in the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP).
Only an experienced, licensed, and professional contractor such as Champion Environmental Services, Inc. should remove identified contaminants. If you suspect asbestos is present prior to a project, contact a local environmental consultant who can properly advise you as to how the “hot spots” should be dealt with.
Despite a number of bans and regulatory measure across the globe, asbestos still maintains an active foothold in the mining industry. According to the British Geological Survey on world mineral production for 2002-2006 released in 2008, 2,300,000 tons of asbestos was mined worldwide [Link to the report: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/3260/2/FINAL_WMP_2002_2006_COMPLETE_WEB.pdf].
Champion Environmental Services, Inc. is pleased to be recognized as a trusted entity acting as a steward of the people and environment in an attempt to create a cleaner, healthier, safer environment for generations to come.
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