MCK taking extra precaution removing transite pipes

09/13/2019

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) Public Safety Unit would like to inform the Community that transite pipe is being removed in the village area and extra precautions are in place. Current works by the MCK Capital Unit are taking place near the Old Malone Highway.

The worksites such as the one near Old Malone’s contain a bin with a danger sign warning people of the asbestos containing material (ACM), which are properly bagged, sealed and stored in the bin. Additionally, extra precautions are being taken to ensure any pieces of the ACM transite pipe that break off in the removal process are also properly bagged and put into the bin, to be removed by a professional company with expertise with such removal.

These pipes do contain asbestos fibers encased within the cement. The entire pipes are being removed as they are nearing the end of their lifespan and are being replaced with modern pipes. These are the same pipes that have been removed in the past where some pieces broke off and ended up in landfill that was moved within the territory.

There are more ACM transite pipes that will be removed throughout the Community that will go through the same process. All pipes east of the tunnel are modern plastic pipes, while many of the pipes installed prior to 1980 west of the tunnel may be ACM pipes that are in the process of being removed.

“Public Health & Safety is our number one concern, and we, along with the Kahnawà:ke Labor Office, are doing things properly to ensure that what happened in the past does not happen again,” said Lloyd Phillips, Public Safety Commissioner.

To view a Facebook Live event with Lloyd Phillips and Joe Delaronde discussing this topic go to: https://www.facebook.com/mckahnawake/videos/824395724641907/