Selectmen in Belchertown, Massachusetts, have agreed to purchase 35 acres of athletic fields and lakeside property from the town’s economic development corporation. The land is slated for use as an educational laboratory and for youth sports. The price: a measly $10. The catch: the land likely contains hazardous materials like lead paint and asbestos.

Asbestos exposure is linked to the eventual development of mesothelioma, a fare and fatal cancer, and lead paint is also linked to several medical conditions. Asbestos was once a common component of materials like fireproofing, insulation, adhesives, and other building materials. Tiny asbestos fibers can be released into the air when the material is disturbed. These particles lodge permanently in the lungs and can cause illnesses.

The $10 sale price was determined by the Belchertown Economic Development Industrial Corp., which was developed in order to help foster growth at the former Belchertown State School property. "There was all sorts of interest in this, but not the funding," said Kirk Stephens, a member of the economic development corporation’s board of directors.

In addition to paying $10 for the property, the selectmen also had to sign the purchase and sale agreement for the property and a 13-page memorandum of agreement that outlines how the property will be used. The agreements signed by the selectmen state that the town is aware that the land likely contains asbestos and other contaminants, and will not pursue legal action against the seller to finance the cleanup of the site. The deal will be finalized at a meeting scheduled to be held on August 14th.

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