As construction to turn the East Wing of the White House into a ballroom enters its second week, advocates continue to press for proof the Trump administration is following the proper environmental protocols.
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization sent a letter to the White House late last week requesting documentation of the inspection, monitoring and abatement measures necessary to mitigate exposures to the cancer-causing minerals. Among those measures are EPA regulations on hazardous waste transportation and disposal and Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards on workplace protective equipment. Those abatement measures include workers wearing the appropriate protective gear, spraying water to contain dust and ensuring asbestos-laden materials are sealed, labeled and disposed of according to federal hazardous waste standards.
“Every building of this age must undergo full asbestos inspection and abatement before any demolition begins,” said ADAO President Linda Reinstein. “The White House should be the national model for transparency, compliance, and worker safety, not an exception to the rules.”
A White House spokesperson said in response to questions that “any hazardous material abatement was done in September.”
