According to KRQE News 13 (Albuquerque, NM), a Larry Barker follow-up investigation disclosed that following the City of Albuquerque’s (“CABQ”) 2021 purchase of the old Gibson Medical Center for use as a state-of-the-art homeless center, its construction contractor, Consolidated Builders, began renovation of the facility during 2022 without proper management of asbestos-containing materials and improperly disposed of the resulting regulated asbestos waste – resulting in asbestos exposure to workers and the visiting public.
In 2023, following its investigation, the New Mexico Environment Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (“OHSB”) cited the CABQ for several asbestos-related safety violations at the Gateway Center (the former Gibson Medical Center). In a recent settlement agreement, the CABQ agreed to pay a $219,552 penalty, to spend $94,000 for future asbestos testing and training, and to spend an additional $180,448, over a three year period, for the medical monitoring of exposed workers and contractors.
The KRQE News 13 article may be in its entirety HERE.
FGGAM published an initial report about the asbestos-related violations at the CABQ’s Gateway Center HERE, on April 26, 2023.
FGGAM published a second report about the asbestos-related violations at the CABQ’s Gateway Center HERE, on September 1, 2023. The report discusses OHSB-issued citations and the assessment of monetary penalties against the CABQ and its general contractor, Consolidated Builders of NM, LLC, for alleged asbestos violations at the Gateway Center on Gibson Boulevard, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The CABQ acknowledged responsibility for mistakes and notified individuals identified as having visited the Gateway Women’s Shelter construction area between April 11, 2022 and March 9, 2023 of their potential exposure to asbestos.
My brothers and sisters, asbestos is a naturally-occurring, microscopic, fibrous ‘miracle’ mineral highly suited for use in construction for insulation, fireproofing and to add strength to materials. Unfortunately, following decades of its use during the 20th century (with some uses continuing today), it was determined to cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma (a cancer of the pleura).
As a retired employee of the New Mexico Environment Department, I was frequently involved with asbestos management, disposal and regulatory enforcement. I can assure you that once regulated asbestos waste has been generated, it represents a potential hazard to human health. This is primarily due to the potential for inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers, which can lodge in the lungs (sort of like little fishhooks) and can cause cell abnormalities or run away growth (cancer).
One of the reasons it can be difficult to convince persons of the risks posed by the presence of asbestos is that there is a ‘latency period’ associated with asbestos exposure – meaning that although exposure may result in cancer and death, the effects of asbestos exposure may not manifest for 10 to 30(+) years following such exposure.
Perhaps the most disturbing thing about this entire article is that managing asbestos properly, at both the federal and state levels, is not new or unusual. For the City of Albuquerque to willfully ignore safety regulations for the removal, transportation and disposal of asbestos, resulting in the exposure of workers and the visiting public, is inexcusable.
This writer remembers that during the CABQ’s process for the demolition of blighted or abandoned buildings within Albuquerque, during the years I worked for the New Mexico Environment Department’s Solid Waste Bureau, the CABQ was sometimes inconsistent in its willingness to treat asbestos with a sense of urgency when private residences were exempt from certain aspects of federal regulation (e.g., NESHAP asbestos inspections and reports prior to demolition) or when friable asbestos-containing building materials were deemed unsafe for abatement prior to transportation and disposal, which required the entire truckload to be handled and disposed as regulated asbestos waste (not routine construction & demolition debris) due to asbestos contamination.
Regardless, I pray that the deterrent effect of the OHSB’s penalty has gotten the CABQ’s attention, and for the future safety of workers and the public, that proper asbestos management will always be a priority and the order of the day in Albuquerque.
The Bible reminds us that we are to comply with the requirements of civil government (so long as what is being required is not ungodly, and in conflict with the scriptures and therefore, the will of God):
Romans 13:1-2 (NKJV)
Submit to Government
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”
