Contractor workshop reviews legal, health dangers

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Several area contractors in the various disciplines turned out last Wednesday for an update on local requirements and consequences involved in demolition and disposal of debris to avoid health hazards and code violations.
    Jim McPartland of JH McPartland and Sons, a 32-year veteran in the contracting business, said  he attended to learn proper procedures and “it was very informational.” One of the examples he pointed out was that burying construction debris could lead to legal and health implications if a well were drilled down through old hazardous materials.   
RENOVATION NATION — Maine’s DEP Environmental Specialist, Lou Pizzuti, above,  and NMDC’s Environmental Planner, Connie Bondeson, pass out educational materials on construction and demolition debris at a workshop for professional contractors in Houlton. In the inset photo, Contractor Rick Michaud says: “There’s quite a lot to go through to properly design and renovate rooms if lead paint is present.”
    Contractor Rick Michaud, owner of Cottage and Home Maintenance, was recently certified in lead paint renovation and said his work involves disposing of a “a lot of asphalt shingles and sheetrock.” Michaud added that “it was a good seminar” and his work on so many older homes is requiring more contact with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to get rid of hazardous materials.
    Connie Bondeson, environmental planner for the Northern Maine Development Commission says the turnout of 17 contractors was good and although there were no new requirements, “the transfer station managers were having a difficult time with construction and demolition debris coming into the transfer stations.” So, she got a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide an informational meeting regarding asbestos, lead paint, mercury contamination, wood burning or burying and other issues regarding notification and disposal in a safe, legal manner.
    Maine DEP Environmental Specialist Lou Pizzuti discussed federal and state regulations with regard to notification and disposal of asbestos, PCBs, mercury and wood. He said some areas in Aroostook County only have rules about hazardous materials after demolition. However, in Houlton, Code Enforcement Officer Kevin Tingley said: “Contractors have to get a permit prior to demolition and we then give them the rules on hazardous materials.” Tingley also said contractors have been contacting him regarding proper procedures and expected the meeting would be helpful as construction work goes forward.
    Brian Hovey, general manager of Pine Tree Waste in Houlton, said he acts as a resource to contractors and most of the contractors bring in wood, shingles, sheetrock and insulation. When it comes to asbestos,  “people can’t come in and just drop off asbestos because there are restrictions with how it is handled,” says Hovey. “We have to handle it through a container service and it has to be bagged and there are a number of requirements involved [in burying it in the landfill in Fort Fairfield].”
    McPartland said he’s aware of reasons for so many regulations and “the meeting probably enlightened everybody there. “Sometimes the laws get made and they don’t get passed down all the way.”