Acme Power Plant Asbestos Cleanup Could Be Done Sooner Than Anticipated

Cleanup of an environmentally hazardous old building north of Sheridan continues and if the weather cooperates, that part of the project could be done by the end of this year.

According to Horsley Specialties Incorporated out of Rapid City, South Dakota, more than 1,000 bags of asbestos have been removed from within the old Acme Power Plant building.

Crews started removal back in September and estimate the project is about 65-70 percent completed.

Zack Horsley, who is the Owner and President of Horsley Specialties Incorporated says some of the work is temperature sensitive and workers have been pushing forward since the extreme cold temperatures have not yet arrived, which they thought would have been here by now.

“We went ahead and inside the building our guys have actually created a heated chamber to keep all of our temperature sensitive items in and then we have heated water lines and we’re adding some additional heat to the air that the guys are working in and we’re trying to get the entire cleanup done this year if possible, so we’re pushing through and we’re hoping to keep working into December if possible.”

Horsley adds all the asbestos that has been bagged up is being sent to a proper waste facility in Casper.

Once the asbestos is removed, crews will start work on demolition of two of the old turbine rooms, because the roof is collapsing in those areas and it poses a safety concern.