Kill Off the Deer – or Kill Off the Humans? Asbestos Contamination Looms at Valley Forge
16 October 2009
by Anai Rhoads
AnaiRhoads.org -- Pennsylvania's Valley Forge National Historical Park will be under siege this winter, as the deer face their common enemy – the human. However, an equally sinister situation is going on in the park, one which is greatly ignored by its visitors and county.
A regular visitor to the park recently stumbled upon some disturbing signs along on County Line Road, located between Gulph Road and Valley Forge Road that caught her eye. Nearly 20 asbestos warning signs took over her path and stretched over 1.5 miles.
"I was horrified," said Patty Jones, who often walks through the park with her dog, Anika. "As we were walking down this road, and these signs were on both sides which makes it appear quite ominous. At one point it directly abuts immediately up to the parking lot by the park's welcome center.
"We cut through a trail that came out by the Maintenance Division on County Line Road, as we were heading back. Before we knew it we were kind of just "enveloped" by all these warning signs."
Jones reported to AnaiRhoads.org that the signs are displayed approximately every 20 feet attached to the fence, where one of several major walking trails are lined. The signs are visible approximately a mile (+/-) on both sides of the road leading up and around Valley Forge Road.
What makes the situation even more ominous is that some of these warning signs are directly behind the welcome center.
"You can walk along the road and see the parking lot. It is directly where the horse trailers park and unload. It even has an entrance/exit from the parking lot onto this road with the signs staring directly at you," said Jones.
When asked what her initial thoughts were when she discovered the warning signs, Jones replied, "Very frightened as I was also walking with my husband, 16 and 8 year old sons. I felt like saying... 'Please don't breathe', which of course was impossible."
Jones began snapping photos of the signs and took note of where they were located. "This road, with the signs indicating the asbestos, is directly through the middle of the park. The sign regarding the fishermen/fish and stream are at the Southwest corner, about a mile or two away from the asbestos."
The Chairman of Upper Merion Township Board of Supervisors, Scott Sibley, responded to Jones in an e-mail, stating:
"I am sure you would agree that we should not work on one problem at a time and put off working on all others until one is resolved. Work is proceeding on all of these problems, which come from very diverse sources.
"Funding is being arranged to deal with the asbestos in conjunction with some roadway improvement projects. The fish contamination results from an industrial site upstream, that is also working on a cleanup."
The issue here is that the signs are very old. To merely "arrange" for funding now, is too little, too late.
Sibley also commented on the White-tailed deer, saying that "the deer problem results from the fact that humans have changed the balance, and driven all of their natural predators away. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of the natural resources and help to resolve the problems we have helped to cause."
Basically, the agency acknowledges that the removal of predators has resulted in the upcoming deaths of the deer in the park, however, avoids mentioning that wealthy residents spurred the action on.
Asbestos
Asbestos was commonly used in to insulate buildings before 1972, until the discovery was made that breathing in this element caused a host of health issues and even death. It is the most common culprit of lung cancer and breath-restrictive disorders in those who were exposed to it.
Its fibres can still be found in flooring, pipes and even ceiling tiles of older buildings. When inhaled, lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) are greatly increased as the dust and fibres create an acidic environment in the victim’s lungs. It takes an average of 15 years before the cancer makes itself known and even up 40 years in some cases.
Approximately 80 percent of cases of mesothelioma reveal that the patient had a history of exposure to asbestos. This element is exceptionally dangerous - and the park has not properly disposed of its traces. Asbestos does not decompose, making the risk to the park’s visitors even greater if the area is disturbed.
Have Your Say
The National Park Service was quick to sentence 80 percent of the White-tailed deer population to their death at the park earlier this year - but has failed to acknowledge the obvious health-hazard of the asbestos residue. Any minor disturbances to these laden areas affect humans and other animals - and while millions are about to be spent dismantling deer families, not a penny will be used to prevent us from the asbestos.
Contact the Valley Forge Park representatives and demand that they do something:
Valley Forge National Historical Park
Kristina Heister, Natural Resource Manager
(610)783-0252 or kristina_heister@nps.gov
Valley Forge National Historical Park Fax: (610)783-1060
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