Senator Levin Announces Final Passage of $200,000 Authorization for Coast Guard to Demolish and Clean Up Building and Property Transferred to Traverse City Area Public Schools

WASHINGTON – Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., announced today that Congress has passed legislation authorizing $200,000 for the Coast Guard to demolish an asbestos-laden former Coast Guard building on land it had already transferred to Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS). The bill also provides authorization for the removal of asbestos which has been found on the property which the school district had been using for soccer fields. The $200,000 necessary for the demolition and remediation has already been appropriated by Congress and signed into law.

"This is great news for soccer kids, soccer moms and soccer dads," said Levin. "Now the Coast Guard can finish their work and soccer enthusiasts in Traverse City will have clean and safe fields to play and watch the game. Everybody wins."

With the passage of today's bill, the Traverse City school district cleared its final hurdle to the cleanup of the former Coast Guard property. It was understood when Congress transferred the Coast Guard property and other buildings to TCAPS in 1996 that the Coast Guard would take responsibility for removal of asbestos from the buildings. However, because the money was not authorized or appropriated by Congress, the asbestos abatement was delayed. In the meantime, asbestos was discovered on the property that the school district had been using for soccer fields for a local recreation league.

The Coast Guard claimed it needed both an authorization and an appropriation from Congress before it could tear down the building and remove all the asbestos on the property. The funds were included in the FY 2001 transportation appropriations bill which was signed into law on October 23, 2000. The legislation authorizing the Coast Guard to spend the funds for the demolition and cleanup was included in the omnibus appropriations bill which passed the House and Senate today. The legislation now goes to President Clinton for his signature. He is expected to sign the bill.

Now that the Coast Guard has both the funds and the authorization, work could begin as early as next year to demolish the old building and remove the environmental hazard posed by the asbestos.

Levin worked with Congressman Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, in arranging for the transfer of the Coast Guard property to Traverse City Area Public Schools in 1996. Levin and Stupak joined forces earlier this year to ensure inclusion of the $200,000 in the FY 2001 transportation appropriations bill. They worked together again to include the legislative authorization in the bill that passed today.