BATH — Removal of asbestos and lead from Donald Small School, expected to last until mid-September, will keep Bath Community Television off the air from Sept. 6-16.

The former school, built 50 years ago, houses both Bath Community Television and the Bath Recreation Department. The latter will remain open, according to a press release, and is expected to move to the top floor during the abatement process, which began Aug. 12.

The project includes removing and disposing of building materials that contain asbestos, as well as replacing abated building materials and partial abating of lead-based paint found on exterior window casings.

A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Subgrant, which uses funding the city received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is paying for nearly the entire project, which costs a little more than $180,000, according to Justin Poirier, Bath’s director of community development.

With the funds available until the end of September, the city opted to use them for the Donald Small School, which had already been assessed for contaminants.

“There’s no real current risk to anybody in the building,” Poirier said, noting that the work will come in handy in the future if anyone wants to renovate or change the configuration of the building.

“We won’t have this as an impediment,” he said.

Once the project is complete, the building will have new floors, which will include a multi-purpose floor in the gymnasium.

Log onto cityofbath.com for more information on the Brownfields Program.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

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