Department of Interior Addresses Asbestos Issues

February 26, 2006 - Just a day after a Washington, D.C. radio station aired a report on health, safety and environmental hazards in the Department of the Interior, the government agency has told employees that these hazards will be addressed immediately, Station WTOP has reported.

All employees received memos on Thursday, February 22nd, which stated that “some of the corrections have already been made, some will be completed in a few days, and others will take longer.”
 
"All will be completed as quickly as possible to enhance the safety and health of the employees and visitors to these buildings," the memo says, noting the report found "friable asbestos-containing materials are located throughout the Interior Complex" which consists of two building.

The memo also states that areas with loose asbestos have now been considered off limits to all but those who will be addressing the issue of removal.  Employees were also told, however, that air testing of the areas in question have produced results that are well within acceptable limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).