Learn about city’s 175 asbestos dumping sites at open house

If you live on or near one of the city 175 known asbestos dumping sites in Nashua, you might want to attend an open house that city and state environmental officials are planning this month.

It might be a good idea to come if you worry that your home might be perched atop one of the many possible undiscovered sites or if you’re curious about asbestos in general.

The open house will be held Monday, June 22, from 6-8 p.m. in City Hall’s third-floor auditorium.

The city’s approximately 175 known asbestos disposal sites include residential, business and city-owned properties. Invitation letters were mailed to these property owners, as well as to occupants of properties that in the past were reported to contain asbestos, said Deb Chisholm, the city’s brownfields coordinator.

Topics to be discussed include property owners’ responsibilities, environmental issues, potential health risks, proper management of asbestos to reduce potential risk of asbestos exposure, and remediation and redevelopment strategies for select sites.

A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant will allow the city to develop an inventory of brownfields properties with asbestos in soils, assess the condition of the properties and determine any additional actions that are required for the remediation and redevelopment of select sites, Chisholm said.

“A key component of this brownfields program is public involvement,” Chisholm said. “We plan to work closely with residents and business owners, helping them to understand what to do if asbestos waste is suspected or known to be buried on their property and to reduce any potential risk of asbestos exposure.”