The US Forest Service is teaming up with CalRecycle and Tahoe National Forest to clean up an illegal dumping site near the town of Washington. Environmental Engineer Brad Shipley says the site became a dumping ground after a legally operated landfill was closed in the 1970’s. The project will require hazmat-trained contractors to gather and remove the waste due to the fact that the site is located in a serpentine rock formation, where naturally occurring asbestos can be found. Shipley says the project was chosen from a list of illegal dumping sites.
Washington dump clean up
Project engineers are keeping a close eye on fire conditions, as well as the air quality to monitor for asbestos, though Shipley says Washington residents are not in danger. The project started this Monday and the Forest Service and CalRecycle hope to be finished in two weeks, by the 15th.