Environmental officials in Oregon have proposed a plan to clean up a former military training facility in Sunriver, Oregon. The soil on the 5.9 acre plot is contaminated with asbestos.
The land was last used during World War II when Camp Abbot was located on the premises. The facility included 98 buildings, most of which contained asbestos. After the buildings were demolished the asbestos settled in the soil.
The land is currently used for sledding in the winter, but remains uninhabited and unused during the rest of the year. The Sunriver Owners Association wants to use the land to develop an aquatics and multi-use park. The project is estimated at $18.9 million, including clean-up.
Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, stomach or heart. The disease is often fatal as early diagnosis is rare.
Should the plans to use the land as a park be dismissed, clean-up and monitoring of the site alone is estimated at $3 million.
Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/08/oregon_proposes_asbestos_clean.html