Renovation construction at my residence located in the Crystal Towers high-rise apartment building (1600 S. Eads St., Arlington, VA 22202) has been in effect since October 2006. The building, initially constructed in 1964, has a substantial amount of asbestos as a primary building material.
This renovation known to residents as “The Slab Edge Project” has been in effect since December 2006. No on-site building permits have been posted. In February 2007, a representative of the building’s owner, Archstone-Smith Operating Trust (formally Charles E. Smith Residential, LLC/Crystal Towers) applied to Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing & Development to perform this work. The work was assigned to a primary contractor, Structural Prevervation Systems, Inc. (as stated by memo from building staff)). However this company is not licensed to work with or around asbestos.
Further inquiries to the Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing & Development were answered by James Anjam, Manager, Inspection Section, Phone: 703-228-3875, Email: janjam@arlingtonva.us.
Mr. Anjam writes: “Attached is a copy of the Virginia State Asbestos Removal Permit. This permit was issued to “The Environment Group” Lic also attached, sub-contractor for Structural Preservation System. Other issues in your letter will be investigated”; also included is an attached PDF document. The document is a faxed copy of an Asbestos Removal Permit issued by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry to contractor “The Environmental Group, Beltsville, MD, Contractor number: 3306000667”).
This is not an asbestos abatement or removal project. Predefined Federal, State, and County procedural guidelines and regulations for asbestos removal differ from the type of project that is being performed in this structure. The activities involved in the “slab edge project” include procedures that are certain to disturb and render asbestos friable (airborne) and therefore, dangerous. I am not familiar with Environment Group Corp. of MD, nor have I seen any evidence of their existence (uniform employees, site posted permit, equipment, etc.) since my move-in date of June 2006. I was informed that the project was being monitored by an individual named Valerie Bellamy; working under her supervision is Matthew C. Kain.