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Air Sampling Question and Answer Fact Sheet
Why air sampling? The Atlas Asbestos Mine Superfund Site has been cleaned up to ensure that asbestos associated with mining activities is not released to surrounding areas, including the CCMA. However, the Record of Decision for the Atlas Site requires EPA and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to assess the risk of naturally occurring asbestos to CCMA recreational users. The EPA and BLM have been measuring the amount of asbestos fibers in the personal air space of persons engaged in typical recreational activities at the CCMA. The goal of the February 2005 air sampling is to gather data during wet winter conditions. Previous sampling events in September 2004 and November 2004 occurred during drier conditions. The September 2004 data has been validated and is available to the public upon request. Both the dry and wet weather sample data will be used to help develop a more comprehensive asbestos exposure assessment for users of the CCMA. When the exposure assessment report is complete, the EPA will send the report to BLM, place a copy into the Atlas Site information repositories, and produce a summary factsheet for the public. The report will assist the BLM in developing CCMA management strategies that will minimize human health risk to users and maintenance workers. What will happen at the pre-race and race event air sampling? A week or so before the race and during the race event, the BLM, EPA staff and their contractors will be wearing protective clothing and respirators. Sampling devices will be hooked to them to collect air samples in the breathing space of the persons wearing them. Some of these persons will be engaged in off-highway motorcycle activities. The EPA will also collect air samples from stationery samplers located along the race route. The data will be used to compare airborne asbestos concentrations on the race day with concentrations on other days when there are fewer CCMA users. What information for CCMA visitors is available? BLM and EPA have developed asbestos information that gives the casual visitor to the CCMA sufficient and clear warning of the cancer risks associated with inhalation of asbestos fibers. This information is available from the Hollister Field Office at (831) 630-5000. What about contact information, mailing lists, and information repositories? If you would like to be included on the EPA mailing list to receive future information about the Atlas Asbestos Mine Superfund Site, please call Jacqueline Lane, EPA Community Involvement Specialist toll-free at 1-800-231-3075 or (415) 972-3236. More information about the Atlas Asbestos Mine Superfund Site is available on-line with the EPA. The Atlas Site’s information repositories are located at the Coalinga District Library (559-935-1676), Huron City Hall (559-945-2241), Kings County Library (559-582-0261) and the Superfund Record Center in San Francisco (415-536-2000).
Rick Cooper, Field Manager
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