Asbestos violations hit Nevada Anaconda Copper Mine
Wednesday, 29 Jul 2009
New York Injury reported that Las Vegas, NV-Atlantic Richfield Company entered into a recent settlement agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov regarding massive toxic law violations at their former Anaconda Copper Mine site at Yerrington in Nevada in US.
ARC agreed to reimburse the EPA USD 2.2 million of the USD 10 million the federal agency has already spent investigating and cleaning up the Superfund site. The EPA already spent approximately USD 10 million at the Anaconda Copper Mine site removing the following, highly environmental and human toxic materials known to cause various forms of cancer like mesothelioma lung cancer, plus other contaminants:
1. Asbestos laden transite pipe throughout the mine
2. Radiological materials so workers can safely continue abatement and demolition
3. Construction and operation of a system deterring wildlife from contaminated water and acidic fluids
4. Abatement and demolition of abandoned electrical wiring systems.
The Anaconda Copper Mine was formerly the Empire Nevada Mine. ARC company executives also agreed to perform additional demolition, abatement and cleanup work estimated at USD 8 million to further reduce the environmental and health affects caused by toxic substances like asbestos containing materials. The EPA regulators state they will use the USD 2.2 million in fines to continue the abatement project headed under the Pacific Southwest Superfund Division to help prevent hazardous dust particles, like asbestos fibers from continually harming the ground water, environment, wildlife, workers and area residents.
Asbestos and the other toxic materials are known carcinogens and can cause other harmful illnesses and diseases. Workers, miners and area residents exposed to asbestos containing materials are at high risk for developing illnesses like asbestosis and fatal cancers like mesothelioma lung cancer.
