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News Releases from Region 04

EPA to Conduct Environmental Evaluation at Old Davis Hospital Site

06/07/2016
Contact Information: 
Davina Marraccini (marraccini.davina@epa.gov)
404-562-8293, 404-562-8400

ATLANTA – At the request of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS), EPA Region 4 is conducting an evaluation of environmental conditions at the Old Davis Hospital property in Statesville, N.C. EPA will begin air monitoring today for asbestos around the perimeter of the site in coordination with the City of Statesville and Iredell County. EPA will also provide technical assistance to assess asbestos-bearing waste and possible associated risks.

Currently the site is in a semi-demolished state with few safeguards to prevent human exposure since demolition was halted in October 2015. EPA is working to gain legal access to the property in order to secure the site with better fencing, signage and other means, and to stabilize and remove a number of asbestos-containing debris piles located on the property. 

In May 2016, EPA Region 4 personnel confirmed through NC DHHS that debris from the demolition of Old Davis Hospital contains over 35 cubic feet of asbestos-contaminated waste material, which triggers the asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulations for abatement/demolition activities. The asbestos NESHAP requires debris from asbestos demolitions to be removed expeditiously and to be kept adequately wet at all times until it is removed.

EPA staff conducted a site visit on June 3, 2016, to observe conditions at the property, assess potential for exposure, and begin identifying steps that must be taken to address potential exposure risks.

Residents who are concerned about a potential exposure should contact their doctor. For questions about the site and/or general health information, residents may contact Ron Smith, Iredell County Manager, at (704) 878-3050 or rsmith@co.iredell.nc.us.

Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4

And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast

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