SHINE, ATSDR conduct asbestos review of Vermiculite Northwest site

During the DEQ investigation and cleanup of the Vermiculite Northwest site, bags of Zonolite insulation found by DEQ staff in a crawl space during a site visit were removed. Portions of the inside of the building were pressure-washed and some rafters were scraped. The building was cleared in April of 2001.

Subsequently, a second former W.R. Grace facility in Spokane, WA, was investigated. After reviewing information about both the former facilities, SHINE recommended that a follow up investigation be conducted at the former Portland facility.

SHINE recommended that soil samples be collected in the area along the rail line where vermiculite was unloaded, and that indoor dust samples be taken to ensure a thorough cleanup was accomplished in 2000. As a result, EPA is currently completing a second investigation at the Vermiculite NW Portland site. SHINE staff will review new data as it is released.

SHINE and ATSDR staffs are conducting a health statistics review of the area in the immediate vicinity of the Former Vermiculite Northwest site. Health statistics reviews are statistical analyses of existing health outcome data (e.g., cancer registry data and death certificate data) on populations near selected sites of concern to determine if an excess of disease(s) has occurred.

SHINE is reviewing available electronic data, which includes mortality data and cancer incidence data from 1979 through 1998.