Indiana Agency, EPA, Local Officials Continue Cleanup

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Madison County, Indiana, Health Department and the city of Anderson have completed their review of a company plan to remove debris from a Jan. 14 fire at the AMACOR magnesium recycling plant in Anderson, Ind., and are continuing their joint efforts to finish the cleanup.

EPA, state and local officials and AMACOR representatives began visiting homes in the neighborhoods affected by the fire to hand out fact sheets that warn residents not to handle debris and to get permission for debris removal, since homeowner cooperation is essential for cleanup. 

EPA, IDEM and local officials have agreed that protection of residents, workers and the environment is of the highest priority, and that release of potentially hazardous materials in the debris will be minimized. 

EPA and IDEM will continue monitoring the removal and cleanup of the debris already begun by HydroTech, an environmental contractor hired by AMACOR.

So far, no asbestos has been detected in air samples collected in the area targeted for cleanup.  Some asbestos was detected in debris that fell in the neighborhood south and southwest of the AMACOR plant after the fire. The factory roof, which was built around 1969, contained asbestos.  Asbestos was used for many years as a fire-retardant in construction material.