According to an environmental consulting firm, the site of the retired Cortez high school, where the city will soon begin constructing a community park, is officially free of asbestos.
The firm, LT Environmental Inc., is an environmental risk management consulting firm based in Arvada, with an office in Durango. LTE completed its final round of testing for asbestos-containing materials in August, but only recently finalized the results in a letter dated Nov. 9 to Jim Ketter, owner’s representative for Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1.
“Based on our review of previous surveys, additional sampling, and final inspection, LTE believes that there is no regulated ACM (asbestos-containing materials) remaining at the Site,” reads the letter, which was signed by two senior LTE officials.
Testing for asbestos, a carcinogenic material that was commonly used in the 20th century for building insulation, started at the site of the retired high school as early as 2012, according to the letter.
Closing on the sale of the former school’s site from RE-1 to the city of Cortez is set for Nov. 30 according to district Superintendent Lori Haukeness. At the time of the sale, the city will take over management of the property and eventually begin construction of the community park at 206 West Seventh St.
