Pennsylvania Citizens Protest Dirt-Capping

August 11, 2009

Officials in the state of Pennsylvania have asked that the Environmental Protection Agency not use dirt capping at a state asbestos site. This common procedure is often used as a more cost-effective way to make asbestos sites less hazardous. Large loads of dirt are simply dumped over the top of a site, to keep it from becoming airborne and spreading throughout the environment.

However, the citizens of Pennsylvania have said that dirt capping is just a quick solution to a very big problem. Though the dirt may keep the asbestos from becoming airborne for a few years, it cannot last forever. They have requested that the site be completely cleaned up.

Federal law mandates that asbestos sites be cleaned up and handled by professionals who are trained in the proper procedures and protocol. This is because asbestos fibers- when inhaled can cause mesothelioma- a deadly form of respiratory cancer.