City councilors will meet today in Augusta, Maine to discuss how they will pay for the removal of unexpectedly large amounts of asbestos-laden material from a former Augusta mill. Asbestos was once used in insulation, fireproofing, and other building materials. It is now known that asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, or asbestosis.

The city knew that the former Augusta Tissue mill contained asbestos prior to financing the removal of the deadly substance. However, the extent of the asbestos present in the structure has caught city officials off guard. Despite the fact that the city set aside additional funds in the event of finding unexpected asbestos, the city has burned through all of the money set aside for the project.

At the meeting of the Augusta councilors will vote on a proposed budget increase of $25,000. The money would come from the city’s fund balance, and would refill the empty coffers set aside for the asbestos removal at the former mill.

Much of the asbestos found is present around pipes. According to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, it will cost about $75,000 to remove the asbestos from the site. In order to pay for the project, the city may file suit against Summit Environmental Consultants Inc., the agency that consulted on the project. Summit’s initial survey missed much of the asbestos present at the site.

Andrew Wright, director of the state environmental department’s Division of Remediation, has offered to pay for the cost of the asbestos removal. The city would then have to reimburse the department, using money from a lawsuit against Summit or profit from the leases once the mill is renovated.

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