Asbestos Delays Demolition in Louisiana

August 15, 2006 - Nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina ravaged many cities along the Louisiana coastline, demolition work on houses destroyed by the storm is still not complete.  That’s because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now requiring the presence of an asbestos supervisor certified by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality at each demolition site.

“That could take time,” Bogalusa Director of Public Works James Hall told the Bogalusa Daily News in an article published this week.   "It's another loophole we've got to jump through," he said. "That's FEMA."

FEMA officials, however, are sticking to their regulations, noting there’s an abundance of asbestos in some of the homes that were hit by Katrina.  When disturbed, the asbestos – found in things like insulation or floor and ceiling tiles – may produce small fibers that become airborne and are dangerous when inhaled. 

The inspections are a little easier, notes Hall, in places like New Orleans, where entire blocks were destroyed and one inspection could be done quickly.  But in places like Bogalusa, he notes, where destroyed homes are scattered, it takes several supervisors many days to complete inspections. 

The newspaper reports that local demolitions are on hold while the proper supervisors are sought. Hall says he cannot guess when they will begin. 

"I'm tired of saying it will happen in the next two weeks," he said. "I've said that for two months.  "We'll be lucky to have one done by the first of September."