The South Coast Air Quality Management District today directed that strict containment measures be taken for debris piles at a demolition site on the campus of Theodore Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles. The requirement follows the recent disturbance of asbestos-wrapped steam pipes inside a building that is being demolished on the Roosevelt campus.
“SCAQMD will take every step within our authority to ensure public health is protected,” said Wayne Nastri, SCAQMD’s executive officer. “We will deploy all necessary measures to contain asbestos or any other air toxics at the demolition site.”
SCAQMD has required contractors working on the demolition at Roosevelt High School to follow all procedures under the agency’s Rule 1466 — Control of Particulate Emissions from Soils with Toxic Air Contaminants. This rule requires that a debris pile at the school containing disturbed asbestos material is contained, fenced and signage is posted. In addition, SCAQMD has required that contractors submit an asbestos cleanup plan to the agency, and upon approval, execute it as required by the agency’s Rule 1403 — Asbestos Emissions from Demolition/Renovation Activities.
On Thursday and Friday, SCAQMD dispatched inspectors to the school after the demolition contractor discovered the asbestos-wrapped steam pipe between the floors and foundation of the building. On Oct. 10, SCAQMD responded to a complaint and visited the site to ensure that that the demolition project was proceeding in compliance with agency rules, finding no violations on that date.
SCAQMD has notified the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Health and Hazardous Materials team, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the Department of Toxic Substances Control and the Los Angeles Unified School District to ensure that public health is protected. SCAQMD’s investigation of the matter is ongoing.
Information on SCAQMD’s asbestos program can be found at http://www.aqmd.gov/home/rules-compliance/compliance/asbestos-demolition-removal. Information on asbestos and its health effects can be found at the federal Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry website at https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=29&tid=4.
