Discovery of toxins will delay beltway project

Wednesday, March 8, 2000 | 11:07 a.m.

Cancer-causing toxins recently discovered on land designated for a new Interstate 215-U.S. Highway 95 interchange have delayed the project and sparked concerns for residents' safety.

Although officials with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection are confident that people living near the site have not been exposed to the toxins, soil testing will be performed this week just to make sure.

"At this point, we don't know if any of the contaminants have reached the homes. We don't believe so, but we want to do some sampling just to verify that," said Brenda Pohlmann, supervisor of corrective actions for the department.

Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls, both carcinogenic materials, were discovered on the property last month. The land is owned by the Levy Trust.

The parcel, however, was scheduled for condemnation by the Nevada Department of Transportation in order to construct a $4 million interchange as part of the Las Vegas Beltway project. Although construction wasn't to begin until 2001, the project's design phase has been delayed and construction likely will be delayed as well.

Bobby Shelton, spokesman for Clark County Public Works, said parts of the beltway already have been completed in the area along the former Lake Mead Drive, but final construction cannot occur until the interchange itself is complete.

Local environmental protection officials are working with landowners to determine the extent of the contamination and the necessary cleanup.

Dioxins are toxic, cancer-causing substances that can produce rashes on the skin, liver problems and immune-system dysfunction, said Bob Kelso, a supervisor with the state environmental protection agency.