After years of delay, mesothelioma asbestos-laden fire site to be cleaned up

In Maquoketa, Iowa, officials say that the cleanup of fire-damaged debris will finally take place next month. Over two years ago, a fire took place downtown, and the debris from that fire has yet to be cleaned up. Officials say that the cleanup will begin in early April, and will take about two weeks to complete. The Maquoketa City Council awarded the cleanup contract to G&B Construction, who will be paid $268,550.

According to officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the debris generated by the fire contains asbestos, a mineral with known carcinogenic properties. Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure.

The city purchased the property from the owner after the fire, and will finance the cleanup with grant money. The cleanup project has been repeatedly delayed, however, while the city waited for approval from the Environmental Protection Agency and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The historic preservation office became embroiled in the cleanup process because one of the buildings destroyed in the fire was Sue’s Hallmark, a building which was listed on the state and national historic registries. Another building the so-called Midas Building, was also a complicating factor.

City Manager Brian Wagner said “The problem is its proximity to the cleanup, which is receiving federal money, and SHPO’s interest in the building. That building became a concern because it’s not on the historic register, but it’s eligible to be.”