Students at the Duniway School in Southeast Portland may have been exposed to asbestos during the partial demolition of a nearby home. Now, residents of the area have expressed a desire for the city to take steps to prioritize asbestos regulation.
“The problem is really at the city level,” said Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association president Robert McCullough, whose aim is to convince the Development Review Advisory Committee of the need for an overhaul. “The city has lost interest in these nuts and bolts issues.”
Currently, Portland does not require builders to prove that asbestos has been contained or removed prior to the issuance of a permit, nor is it necessary for builders to notify neighbors of impending renovation or demolition projects. Further, a demolition permit is not required unless the existing structure is completely demolished, including its foundation. Since the residence on S. E. Rex Street was only partially taken down, no permit was needed.
This is one example of what the Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association considers a flawed system.
The city of Portland does not regulate the handling of asbestos; that task is for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Because two separate entities are responsible, any violations are often undiscovered until after the potential for exposure has already occurred, as was the case with the home near the Duniway School. Any renovation or demolition project is supposed to be inspected by the Department of Environmental Quality before the project’s commencement. No such inspection was done at the S. E. Rex Street residence.
“The system as it is isn’t working,” said Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association member Kimberley Koehler. “We’re doing the city’s job.”
Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma – a type of lung cancer that is almost always fatal. Although asbestos was banned in the 1970s, many older homes, such as the one located on S. E. Rex Street, contain the hazardous substance.