Asbestos Removed from Capitol Tunnel

September 20 , 2006 - This past weekend, licensed asbestos abatement workers were scheduled to remove about 1,000 bags of asbestos-containing materials from the Capitol tunnel, which has been the site of much controversy in regards to workers and asbestos exposure.

Smaller amounts of asbestos began to be removed earlier this year, shortly after it was discovered that 10 men who work in the tunnels were exposed to what would be considered dangerously high levels of asbestos. 

According to an article in The Hill, earlier this year Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced and passed an amendment to the emergency supplemental spending bill that would provide nearly $28 million in federal funds to begin to repair the infrastructure. It has been estimated that the abatement work and repair of the tunnels may cost as much as $200 million.

Lawmakers have been extremely irate that Capitol workers have suffered ongoing exposure to this toxic material, which is known to cause such lung diseases as asbestosis and mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer which carries little chance of long-term survival.  According to the article, a complaint filed with OSHA in February prompted the current clean-up, which could continue for months.