In Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, the debris from a demolition project has been tested for asbestos. Tests were negative, and now the material has been cleared for use as recycled material for new projects.

Several years ago, a fire swept through the area, leaving a burnt wasteland that consumed over 150 historic buildings. Now, the remaining debris like chimneys and concrete will be put to good use. The brick and concrete from the site may be used for drainage filler for the interstate.

"The only hang up at that time was whether or not it had asbestos," Ivy Owen of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority told local news station 5NEWS. Asbestos exposure is linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma. There were also concerns about lead paint contamination.

However, all testing done on the materials by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality were clean, and the contractors can now recycle the materials.

"We pull it up and then we cut the rebar and wire out of it then we kind of size it down to the required size and then we load it in our trucks haul it over there and empty it then we lay it out with a dozer," Max Blake of Blake Construction explained. Blake Construction is under contract to build the approaches for I-49 at Highway 22. Literally tons of material will be pulled from the site, including 155 chimneys and 155 foundations. The cleanup will be done sometime in October.

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