ASBESTOS WORRIES TO GO UP IN SMOKE - BUT FULL APPROVAL UNLIKELY TO COME IN TIME FOR CLEAR UP FROM KATRINA
In New Orleans the recovery process from Hurricane Katrina has been hindered by the problems of demolishing buildings that contain asbestos. In an effort to prevent a recurrence of this problem in any future disaster, the DEA has come up with a cunning plan: they are to incinerate several demolished homes containing asbestos at the parish landfill while monitoring the air to ensure there are no toxic emissions.
The EPA proposed the asbestos burn after Louisiana officials raised concerns about the sheer volume of storm debris and the limited landfill space that can accept asbestos-contaminated material. They plans to burn three asbestos-containing homes in a special incinerator at the parish landfill on Paris Road in Chalmette.
The incinerator is known as an air curtain destructor, which is an open-topped firebox that has a high-speed air current blown across the top to contain the emissions, while also providing oxygen for the fire.
Apparently, when asbestos is burned at high temperature it is converted into a harmless substance but, to ensure safety, dozens of air monitors will be used during the test to identify any harmful emissions.
The tests are scheduled for early April but will only take place if the prevailing wind is blowing away from inhabited areas.