Old library demolition continues to be stalled by asbestos

In addition to a dispute between the demolition contractor and a subcontractor hired to tear down Billings old library, the city confirmed asbestos has been discovered in more areas, leading to oversight and testing by the state Department of Environmental Quality.

This demolition has been full of surprises, said Jackson Contractor Group Vice President Greg Hebner. Jackson Contractor Group is the general contractor for the demolition.

One of those surprises was when a subcontractors construction equipment went through a floor of the building. Hebner said the equipment went through the floor when the subcontractor deviated from the work plan.

Billings City Administrator Tina Volek said no one was injured. Hebner declined to say what kind of equipment went through the floor.

Volek also confirmed that asbestos had been found in two other parts of the building not identified by inspectors when demolition began.

The DEQ was tipped off on April 14 to the presence of asbestos by Bruce Ingraham, an asbestos abatement contractor not associated with the project.

Work at the site was stopped soon after, and DEQ inspectors were sent to the work site to investigate. In any permitting application for asbestos abatement, an inspector is required to inventory all materials in the building, testing them for asbestos.

In the pile of debris that had already been removed from the building, a DEQ investigator found eight types of materials that did not appear on the inventory list, said Larry Alheim, the enforcement specialist in charge of the inquiry.

The inspector, the City of Billings and Jackson were unaware that the asbestos was still in the building, Alheim said.

After testing the materials, two were shown to contain asbestos, according to a letter sent to Jackson, L & M Excavating and The Billings Public Library by Alheim on June 5.

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Old library demolition continues to be stalled by asbestos