At the request of building owner George Papadakis, a test was conducted by Oakdale-based Bovee Environmental Management, Inc. on Aug. 14 at 22 East 11th St. The test report states the areas examined for airborne asbestos were the building’s flooring, ceiling and various walls.
In areas chosen by the owner, air samples were taken for an hour in the front and back of the building, according to the Bovee report. Those samples were then tested using a process called transmission electron microscopy that counts asbestos airborne fibers collected from the clearance samples to determine a representative asbestos fiber concentration level of the regulated area.
Bovee officials ruled in their report that no asbestos structures were detected, and the building could be reoccupied.
The testing came in wake of the former tenant of the building, Rick Hedrick of Tracy Shooting Supplies informing city officials that he was told the building had airborne asbestos.
Hedrick said he hired Sierra Environmental Testing and Consulting, Inc. of Woodbridge to test the building on June 8 and their tests came back positive for asbestos inside the building. The report stated the company collected three samples of building materials and found asbestos in the wallboard/joint taping compound and ceiling tile texture.
Hedrick said he became suspicious after he developed breathing problems and closed his shop in mid-June. He said he thought the problem might have been related to a roof leak from 2002, and he said inspectors told him there was airborne asbestos in the building.
City officials were notified of the alleged hazard by Hedrick, and Tracy Code Enforcement Manager Ana Contreras said they had considered a vacate order for the building in early August. She said that changed after she talked to testing officials at Sierra who informed her that they never tested for airborne asbestos.
Contreras said on Thursday, Aug. 30, that the reports by Bovee and Sierra speak for themselves and the city has closed their investigation into the matter.
“No further action will be taken on the part of the city,” she said. “However we have established internal control in the event the property owners remodel or do construction within the building that may prompt an asbestos concern.”
Contreras said the building’s owners will have to notify the city with the normal permitting process prior to construction. If they do apply for city permits, she said they will also have to undergo the permit process by the San Joaquin County Air Pollution Control District to address any disposal requirements of materials with asbestos content.
Hedrick said he had no comment regarding the latest testing conducted on his former rental space.
After numerous attempts for an interview, the property owners’ son Nathaniel Papadakis stated in an e-mail to the Tracy Press on Aug. 29 that the family is declining to comment at this time.
Contact Denise E. Rizzo at 830-4225 or drizzo@tracypress.com
Under the direction of the City, the owner orders an airborne test and it comes up negative. The city now says the building can be occupied unless remodeling is done that will disturb the asbestos in the wallboard and texture.
This is not uncommon, because asbestos in the building materials do not represent a hazard unless they become airborne due to construction.
Under the direction of the City, the owner orders an airborne test and it comes up negative. The city now says the building can be occupied unless remodeling is done that will disturb the asbestos in the wallboard and texture.
This is not uncommon, because asbestos in the building materials do not represent a hazard unless they become airborne due to construction.
This looks like a mexican stand off folks. One asbestos company voids the other ones claim but if the building owner wants to remodel he will be subject to a county asbestos test. Let me see here, if the county say's there is asbestos the former tenant has a case. If asbestos isn't detected he has no case and it's back to work time.
When one test is positive for cancer-causing asbestos and the owner closes his store?
Well hire some redneck's out of Oakdale to test the building and tell you it's okay.
Never mind the previous owner's breathing problem, which very well might develop into something far worse.
Thanks TracyPress for keeping the citizens INFORMED. I would never dream of shopping at that ramshackle anyways, it looks like the building is going to fall apart as it is!