Panel approves proposal to test Hammond site

The Hammond Redevelopment Commission approved a proposal for environmental testing of an abandoned industrial site.

Department of Planning & Development Executive Director Africa Tarver presented the proposal at the Sept. 3 meeting for Hammond-based EnvironForensics LLC to perform phase I environmental testing at the former National Surface Cleaning site at 124 137th St. in Hammond.

The RDC approved $13,191 for EnvironForensics to take and evaluate soil and groundwater collected from nine soil boring locations on the property that last was owned by Massachusetts-based National Surface Cleaning.

Daly Protective Coating Co. previously occupied that site. In 1993, that company’s president faced criminal charges for violating state environmental laws by having two employees bury 6.5 tons of asbestos under the company’s loading dock some three to four years earlier.

By that time, National Surface Cleaning owned the site. That company agreed to clean up the asbestos, which was purchased by a Canadian company to use for roofing materials.

Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals composed of thin, needle-like fibers, according t o https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos.

“Exposure to asbestos causes several cancers and diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestosis. Although asbestos strengthens and fireproofs materials, it is banned in many countries.

“Asbestos is not banned in the United States,” the website states.