Mold concerns force evacuation of U.S. Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Research Station

June 29, 2001

Mold concerns force evacuation of research center

The Associated Press

June 29, 2001

FLAGSTAFF - A suspected toxic mold has forced the evacuation of 41 workers

in the U.S. Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Research Station here and could

cost close to $100,000 to clean up.

The station forms half of the Southwest Forest Science Complex with Northern

Arizona University's School of Forestry and the College of Ecosystems

Management. It was business as usual on the NAU side Tuesday, even as the

Forest Service side stood empty, its entrances blocked off with yellow

caution tape.

Workers in the Forest Service side complained of allergylike symptoms last

winter, and recent air sampling revealed high levels of the Stachybotrys

chartarum mold, which has been tenuously linked with severe respiratory

ailments, Carl Edminster, interim representative for the station's director,

told the Arizona Daily Sun.

Bright red signs indicated the research station was closed through the week

while workers from the Mesa-based RM-CAT Environmental Services company

sprayed to kill the mold.

Edminster said the problem stems from recent, faulty roof construction that

has allowed water to collect in the walls.

The Forest Service has contracted to have the roof redesigned and replaced,

and that work could be finished by mid-July. Edminster put the cost of the

repairs and killing the mold at $92,000 and growing.

Workers on the NAU side have reported no physical symptoms, said Don

Arganbright, dean of the college.

" I can honestly say that no one has come to me complaining of a mold

problem, " he said. " I sent out an e-mail two weeks ago saying, 'Let me know

if anyone's having a problem,' and no one got back to me. " Jim Biddle, a

health and safety specialist with NAU's Risk Management & Safety Services,

said air samples in the forestry building in October revealed no significant

elevation in mold spore counts inside the building.

Results haven't come in for samples taken last week and earlier this week,

he said.

Recommended Posts