October 19th, 2026
FORT SCOTT — Lab tests commissioned by Bourbon County found asbestos in damaged pipe insulation and fittings in the courthouse, according to reports in the commission’s Oct. 19 agenda packet under “Asbestos Report – Beerbower.”
An environmental firm, APEX Environmental Consultants, took the samples Sept. 29. Schneider Laboratories reported results Oct. 5. All three samples of mudded pipe fittings were 55% chrysotile asbestos. All three samples of pipe insulation were 45%. EPA treats anything over 1% as asbestos-containing. The samples came from the North Custodial Room, the Custodial Restroom and the South Custodial Room in the courthouse basement. APEX rated the material “friable/damaged.” In its recommendations, it said the insulation “is on the verge of a fiber release incident.” Previous photos show the insulation from the pipe insulation accumulating on the desk below the damaged area.
APEX recommends removal by a KDHE-licensed contractor, with advance notice to KDHE. It said more suspect material may be present in the boiler room and elevator room and has not been quantified. Flooring samples from the district court jury room and judge’s chambers showed no asbestos. APEX called the survey limited and “not intended to be a full asbestos inspection.”
Air samples
APEX also took five air samples in the building. Measured fiber concentrations were all below APEX’s clearance level of 0.010 fibers per cubic centimeter, ranging from 0.0032 to 0.0075. The method counts fibers of a certain size but does not identify what they are.
Separately, APEX took two bulk samples of foyer drywall at 108 W. 2nd St., the building the district court is to use during the elevator shutdown. The lab detected no asbestos in either.
The report text raises several questions
- How much damage. The recommendations say “nearly 3 linear feet of the subject pipe insulation fittings” were damaged and asbestos-containing. The results table lists about 600 linear feet of the insulation, “friable/damaged,” and 13 fittings.
- “Abatement.” The air-monitoring letter calls its work “post-abatement clearance sampling… following the abatement project.” FortScott.biz has found no record of an abatement.
- “Residence.” Both inspection letters say the survey covered “the subject residence.” The building is the courthouse.
Commissioners meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the courthouse, two days before the elevator goes out of service for renovation. FortScott.biz detailed the history leading up to the asbestos study on Sunday.