First Phase of Asbestos Management Report Released
An independent environmental expert has confirmed that the Cape Breton Island Housing Authority properly managed the asbestos issue in public housing once it was brought to light this spring.
The Department of Community Services released a report today, July 27, by Pinchin LeBlanc Environmental Limited, on the actions taken in dealing with vermiculite insulation that contained asbestos in two Cape Breton public housing complexes. The phase one report concluded that the actions taken by the Cape Breton Island Housing Authority met or exceeded industry standards in managing the discovery of asbestos.
Recognized as national experts in asbestos management, Pinchin LeBlanc Environmental Limited determined that the Cape Breton Island Housing Authority and its contracted firm, Atlantic Indoor Air Audit Co., took all the necessary and appropriate actions in identifying and containing the asbestos found in vermiculite insulation in the homes at the Whitney Pier and Ashby locations.
Ron LeBlanc, president of Pinchin LeBlanc Environmental Limited said, "Based on our review, we determined that the methods, procedures, and materials used for sealing all meet or exceed federal and provincial standards for this type of work."
The provincial government hired Pinchin LeBlanc Environmental Limited to review and validate all activities undertaken by the Cape Breton Island Housing Authority following the April stop-work order issued by the Department of Environment and Labour.
Joan McKeough, director of the Cape Breton Island Housing Authority said, "We are pleased to have our early work in asbestos management confirmed as high quality, complete, and an appropriate response to the circumstances. We want to again reassure residents that their homes are safe."
Vermiculite insulation containing asbestos was discovered in attics of the Whitney Pier and Ashby Terrace apartments in April.
The Atlantic Indoor Air Audit Co. conducted more than 100 air monitoring tests for the Cape Breton Island Housing Authority. To date, test results from 84 residents' units indicate only one asbestos fibre has been detected. That is less than .000002 fibres per cubic centimetre, well below the Canadian occupational exposure limit of 0.1 fibres per cubic centimetre.
Additional testing by Pinchin LeBlanc Environmental Limited found one asbestos fibre associated with vermiculite which was also well below occupational exposure limits.
All attics were sealed with metal plates as were areas where an opportunity for movement of insulation from the attic space to the living space could have occurred, such as wall and ceiling junctions, around electrical fixtures, chimney shafts and furnace areas.
Phase two of the Pinchin LeBlanc report is expected this fall and will identify options for permanently dealing with the attic insulation in the public housing units.
Ms. McKeough said the Cape Breton Island Housing Authority is looking forward to receiving the phase two report from Pinchin LeBlanc Environmental Limited and to adopting a permanent solution that further ensures the long-term health and safety of residents.
A copy of the report is available on the Community Services website at www.gov.ns.ca/coms/documents/PLPhase1.pdf .