Cleanup Planned for Former Illinois Air Force Base
Cleanup at the former East-Central Illinois Air Force Base is scheduled to begin soon. The director of Public Works has stated that he is pleased that the Air Force made the decision to go ahead with the cleanup project. The base is located in the village of Rantoul, Illinois.
The cleanup project is expected to cost an estimated one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and involves the removal of approximately one mile of asbestos-insulated steam pipes.
Asbestos was used to insulate pipes during the early twentieth century. It was not known how dangerous the substance was until the 1970’s. Following the discovery the substance began to become regulated when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was created by congress.
Exposure to the dangerous toxin has been know to result in the development of a number of asbestos-related diseases which include but are not limited to mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Due to the long latency period of these diseases individuals diagnosed are often left with very limited effective treatment options. In many cases the diagnosed only live for a short time following initial diagnosis, usually twelve to eighteen months.
Surrounding the former base today are hotels, residents, and attractions which is why locals are concerned about the possibility of asbestos exposure. The cleanup will ensure the safety of residents of Rantoul as well as visitors who come to the area.