At the Lake: Asbestos found at Stateline

With the Sierra warming up, and the construction season less than a month away, buildings slated for demolition near Stateline will require some extra attention to keep the air free of a known carcinogen, asbestos.

Plastic sheeting drapes the Tahoe Tropicana Lodge and the hum of ventilation fans is constant as the more than 50 year old building await the removal of asbestos-containing sheet rock, linoleum and floor tile. Asbestos had been anticipated in the redevelopment zone, and funding had already been allocated for the cleanup.

Additional precautions prior to the destruction of the building are necessary because exposure to asbestos has been linked to lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.

“Because of its potential for endangering health, asbestos removal demands the utmost care and specialized training,” said Deborah Jordan, air division director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Southwest region. “Companies that provide removal services must ensure their employees are properly trained to prevent asbestos exposure to the public.”

While measures are in place to limit the public’s exposure to asbestos, everyone is exposed to the minerals at some point in their lives, but most people do not become ill, according to the National Cancer Institute’s Web site.

“People who become ill from asbestos are usually those who are exposed to it on a regular basis, most often in a job where they work directly with the material or through substantial environmental contact,” according to the site.

Even workers with regular exposure to asbestos can largely avoid the ill-effects of breathing in the particles if properly equipped and trained, according to Ed Davis, president of Advance Installations Inc., an asbestos removal service out of Sparks.

“If the job is done properly, there is no health risk,” said Davis.

Proper removal of asbestos throughout the redevelopment project requires significant coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency and is closely monitored by California Air Resources Board, according to South Lake Tahoe’s Principal Building Inspector, Dave Walker.

Since all of the demolition’s will be coordinated by a single company who is “very familiar” with the rules and has been “very good about following them” in Walker’s estimation, he did not see a cause for concern.

“As long as they show us they’re contact with the EPA, we step back and let the state do its job,” said Walker.

The Tropicana isn’t the first building found to contain asbestos in the redevelopment area, and because of the similar ages of the buildings in the area, it likely won’t be the last.

With just eight of approximately 30 demolition permits in the redevelopment area pulled from the city’s building department thus far, plastic sheeting and humming fans may soon become a common sight in the Stateline area.

Roundabout looks like a no-go

With a proposed roundabout almost a distant memory and the possibility of a brighter gateway to town, the South Lake Tahoe City Council caught a glimpse Tuesday of the future at the “Y.”

A few hours after hearing about the revised Tahoe Valley Community Plan amid a packed audience, a quieter council chambers all but called off the quest for a roundabout at the “Y.”

After receiving one extension, the city was facing two upcoming deadlines starting May 1 for using $628,000 in earmarked transportation funds to install new signals at the main intersections where Highways 50 and 89 converge, planners and public works officials warned the council. The venture has already consumed $554,000 in design for traffic signal improvements, but a roundabout would cost the city about $3 million according to its latest report.

And Caltrans would not approve a three-lane roundabout as proposed, a scenario that would require a large chunk of land.

Even roundabout advocate Councilman Ted Long cooled his heels on the prospect of spending and losing so much.

“We should take what we can get,” he said. But in the last word, he disputed Caltrans assessments of the project.

Auto shop owner John Runnels, who has a business at the “Y,” said after the meeting that he was pleased the council came to a conclusion on the roundabout because he felt it was in limbo.

Authorities warn of magazine, ware scams

With spring comes door-to-door sales people hawking magazines and candy and other wares.

While most of the sales are intended for good causes such as field trips and nonprofit organizations, El Dorado County Assistant District Attorney Hans Uthe said people drive from out of town to scam people out of their money.

Uthe heard of people recently trying to scam residents in Minden and Reno. Arrests were made at the South Shore last year, Uthe said.

“If we can find them we can take them down,” Uthe said.

The people try to make themselves look like teenagers and try to sell magazine subscriptions or other periodicals with inflated prices. They often cite a money limit, such as $200, they need to obtain. The swindlers do their homework, saying they live in the neighborhood and refer to nearby organizations that will receive the funds.

“I’ll tell you, out of town or not, they’re going to sound local,” Uthe said.

Uthe advised asking the sales people to come back at a later time and call the organization the funds are supposed to go to verify the fundraising effort. People can also call law enforcement if they have questions about the fundraising.

Marshall keeps improving

Shannon Marshall won the high jump competition with a mark of 4 feet, 10 inches to lead the Whittell girls’ track team at multi-school meet on Saturday in Yerington.

Marshall attempted the school record of 5 feet but came up short. She also won the 300 hurdles in a time of 51.38 seconds.

Mara Humbird placed second in the 200-meter dash (27.83 seconds) to round out the Warriors’ top finishes. In the boys’ meet, junior Paul Waite continues to establish himself among the best in the Nevada 2A.

He ran both the 110 hurdles (16.86) and 300 hurdles (45.2) and has been very focused in both events. Tyler Felton had strong showings in the long jump (17 feet, 9.25 inches) and triple jump (34 feet, 7 inches).

Whittell was short-handed and wasn’t included in the final team standings for the event. The Warriors have the week off for spring break and will compete next April 18 in Lovelock.