Reps. Salazar and Udall Call on U.S. Navy in Asbestos Removal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. John Salazar, Manassa and Mark Udall, Eldorado Springs, are calling on the U.S. Department of the Navy to help with the removal of asbestos contaminated buildings located on property owned by the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.  Salazar and Udall are seeking to secure the Navy’s participation in a discussion with the Colorado State Fair, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify clean-up options and areas of responsibility.   

The Navy benefited from its use and occupancy of the contaminated buildings for many years, although the buildings have remained unoccupied since the Navy vacated the property in 1999.  Since being vacated, the buildings have fallen into disrepair and have become a target of vandalism – presenting both a health and safety hazard.  

"The Colorado State Fair is a landmark event in Pueblo every year.  Buildings located on the State Fairgrounds were used for years by the Naval Reserve Center, and remain contaminated with asbestos to this day," said Salazar.  "The people of Pueblo, and all Coloradans, deserve to see this asbestos contamination addressed.  I hope the Navy will join Mark Udall, myself and other key players in addressing this important issue."

“The Navy enjoyed the use of these facilities for many years,” said Udall. “The Navy may or may not bear responsibility for the remaining clean-up, but that’s the first thing we need to find out. Congressman Salazar and I simply want to establish the chain of responsibility for cleaning up the asbestos so that we can do the right thing by the people of Pueblo. It would be helpful if the Navy agreed to participate in a meeting with state and federal authorities to examine the records and determine whether any assistance is appropriate.  We plan to ask the EPA to participate as well.”

Earlier this year, Udall and Salazar sent a letter to the EPA asking for an independent evaluation of the buildings on the property to determine the nature and extent of any residual asbestos.  The EPA responded by noting that the Navy was a tenant of these buildings and did clean up the easily removable quantities of asbestos under a permit. EPA indicated that it is not clear whether the Navy would be responsible for the rest of the asbestos removal.