FARMINGTON – A Lewiston environmental firm’s representative estimated Tuesday it would cost nearly $5,100 to remove suspected asbestos floor tile and pipe insulation and any mold-contaminated wallboard from the district attorney’s office at the courthouse.
That price did not cover indoor air quality testing, an asbestos survey or lead-based paint determination. A Westbrook test consulting firm estimated that tests would cost $1,400 for a limited asbestos materials survey and limited indoor air quality assessment for the two district attorney’s offices that have been vacant since late January. The firm said costs could be as much as $5,240 for an air quality and asbestos survey and a lead paint determination for the entire Franklin County Superior Courthouse.
Commissioners opted to postpone making a decision so they could review the information more thoroughly. County Clerk Julie Magoon and Treasurer Karen Robinson said they would research the laws on soliciting bids for such a project before the next meeting.
Ron Tillson, vice president of Morrissey Environmental in Lewiston, presented Franklin County commissioners Tuesday with a three-step estimate ranging from $3,344 to remove 375 square feet of asbestos floor tile and 77 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation, to $5,065 to remove 375 square feet of asbestos floor tile, floor tile mastic, 77 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation and 300 square feet of possibly mold-contaminated wallboard along the outer perimeter of both district attorney’s offices.
An assistant district attorney, state police detective and a legal secretary had to relocate to other office spaces in the basement of the courthouse in January due to noxious odors in the offices.
Tillson, an industrial hygienist, said that in his professional opinion, the 9-by-9-inch tiles and insulation around the pipes in the district attorney’s offices are made of asbestos. He said the only way to verify that is to test them. He said at least 95 percent of those types of tiles are asbestos.
They don’t know for sure if there is mold growing in a wall cavity in the outer walls of the offices, he said, but with the catastrophic water leak from steam pipe valves in the heating system and condensation in the cavity caused by cold air coming in from the outside, they suspect there could be mold growing.
Maine law requires that if “you do anything to impact asbestos” such as renovations, Tillson said, “you need to remove the asbestos.”
Tillson also said the pipe insulation and floor tiles in the office are starting to deteriorate.
If his firm were to get the contract, he said, they would seal off the offices and use a negative pressure system to prevent the asbestos fibers or mold spores, if any, from spreading to other parts of the courthouse. They would also be required to meet the state guidelines for asbestos removal, Tillson said.
Franklin County District Attorney Norman Croteau had previously requested an air quality test on the offices. Croteau was at the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday and said he was concerned because of the age of the building, and said he wants to make sure there are no adverse effects on county employees.
Croteau also commended commissioners for taking a systematic approach to deal with the situation. He said that if the testing were done on the whole building, it could act as a planning tool for the county to address the current situation in the district attorney’s offices and for budgeting for future projects.
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