Progress cited on asbestos removal work

MASSENA — A consultant who has been working with the Massena Central School District for nearly two years on the identification and abatement plans for asbestos says most of the district's buildings are in good shape.

However, Peter B. Schuyler, vice president of KAS Environmental and Geological Consulting in Williston, Vt., said, there are still 75 areas to address in the high school, which he said was an improvement over the 212 areas that were initially identified.

He said any friable asbestos that remains is in maintenance areas and crawl spaces that are inaccessible to most people.

He also has inspected the former bus garage, where district offices will be relocated, and noted that there was no more asbestos there.

Mr. Schuyler said one of his primary goals is to find "issues that can't be foreseen," such as floor tiles that don't reveal any asbestos until they're pulled up.

The study includes the former Louisville Elementary School, which he said district officials still need to monitor until they sell the building.