St. Lawrence County officials have decided to postpone the planned study for possible uses for the former Judson Street jail in Canton, New York. The study was expected to cost $110,000, and given the current economic climate, officials agreed that the money might be better spent elsewhere.

"After we heard the gloom and doom news about the financial shape we’re in, we thought we needed to do something different," said Legislator Frederick S. Morrill. "I’m afraid, though, that if we just neglect the jail, it could end up like the J&L site [a contaminated site near Star Lake]. We don’t want it to sit there 30 years and end up with a real mess on our hands."

According to Mr. Morrill, the oldest parts of the former jail could contain asbestos, as well as other hazardous materials. "We need to know the total cost of removing that stuff so it doesn’t just sit there," he said.

Exposure to asbestos can lead to serious health problems, including mesothelioma, a rare but lethal form of cancer with no known cure. While many mesothelioma patients do benefit from chemotherapy, the majority are dead within just two years of being diagnosed, with the cancer sometimes killing within weeks or months in other cases.

Legislator J. Patrick Turbett argues that the jail does not need immediate attention. "The jail was occupied by human beings until we moved to the new jail in May, so I don’t think there is a significant environmental problem that exists today," Mr. Turbett said.

"If they’re saying we had people living in conditions like that, they should be prepared for a whole slate of lawsuits…A lot of asbestos issues exist only after you disturb it. If we’re not going to touch anything, we’re not going to disturb anything. We’re talking about hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars to move ahead. I think it could be put off indefinitely until our financial conditions improve."