Baron & Budd is working with Public Justice and other concerned lawyers and citizens to oppose a plan by the City of Fort Worth along with the EPA to use the experimental "Wet Method," also called the Alternative Asbestos Control Method or AACM, to demolish an asbestos-containing building in a Fort Worth residential neighborhood.

The "Wet Method" is a proposed alternative means of demolishing an asbestos-contaminated building without first removing the asbestos materials from it. Instead, the building will be sprayed with a foaming material to try to minimize dust during the demolition and the building will be knocked down. The debris will all have to be disposed of as "asbestos-containing" material and the surface of the ground beneath removed to minimize remaining asbestos contamination.

This method is much cheaper than the traditional and accepted method of removing asbestos before demolition, but many public health officials believe that it releases more asbestos fibers that the traditional method and creates a greater risk to public health. Even very low levels of exposure to asbestos increases the risk of mesothelioma, a painful and incurable cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. Although the EPA stated after its first test of the wet method that the amount of asbestos released was not a health concern, which prompted reviewing scientists to express concern about "a research bias or hidden agenda" on the part of the EPA. The results of a second test, also in an unpopulated area, are still being reviewed and a final report has not been issued.

The EPA admits that it has not done a health risk assessment of the "Wet Method," but officials insist that it is safe--even in this heavily-occupied neighborhood. The demolition, now scheduled for Thursday, December 13, would be the first test of the method in a residential area.

Baron & Budd attorney Ben DuBose, along with Jim Heckler of Public Justice and Dallas-area attorney Scott Frost have questioned the EPA about this dangerous "experiment" in a densely-populated urban neighborhood. And receiving no answer, they have petitioned the EPA to abandon the demolition plan. They have also worked with Fort Worth area residents and public media to draw attention to the risks.

"We believe this plan puts the public at risk, we know the harm that asbestos exposure can cause, and we are committed to raising awareness and challenging the City and the EPA to defend this plan," says Ben DuBose about the firm's involvement.

This story from The Fort Worth Star Telegram provides additional background about the plan.

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Related Stories:

Experimental demolition plan causes some concern (www.star-telegram.com)

Group protests Fort Worth's asbestos removal method (www.dallasnews.com)

FW, EPA test of asbestos removal method draws safety concerns (www.dallasnews.com)