Portland approves lead and asbestos rules

Portland city council unanimously voted in favor of legislation designed to crack down on lead paint and asbestos emissions from home demolitions Feb. 1, a report by The Oregonian/Oregon Live says. The legislation requires developers who plan to demolish homes to thoroughly search for asbestos and lead paint, notify nearby neighbors and undergo at least two city inspections.

The new rules are effective immediately under an emergency clause but may not be implemented until July 1, following guidelines set by the state. The rules were made to ensure companies follow their own toxic containment plans.

According to the report, a 2015 Oregonian/Oregon Live investigation unveiled that only a third of demolished homes built before the 1980s had asbestos removed before being torn down. In 2012, 200 homes in Portland gave off hazardous asbestos fibers when they were demolished, the report says.

The city’s Bureau of Development Services will oversee the new program, the report says. Any building that houses one to four families and is at least 200 square feet will be affected by the new rules. Nancy Thorington, the bureau’s code and policy analyst, says in the report at least 700 demolitions per year will fall under the new rules.

Companies who want to demolish a home under the new rules will provide an asbestos survey to the city before a permit is issued. The cost of the surveys has been raised to $180 to help pay for two new inspectors who will visit the site before, during and after the demolition.

The inspectors will also make sure a company creates a plan that accounts for dust control, removes all painted parts of a building’s exterior and that materials that might have lead or asbestos are wet down.