Chemist allowed to go home, sans his lab; No extreme hazards found in basement workshop that alarmed authorities.Byline: Priyanka DayalMARLBORO Marlboro or Marlborough (märl`bərō), city (1990 pop. 31,813), Middlesex co., E Mass.; settled on the site of a Native American village 1657, inc. as a city 1890. - Victor Deeb, the retired chemist who stored hundreds of chemicals in his house, was allowed to return home yesterday after authorities spent three days dismantling his basement laboratory. None of the materials found at 81 Fremont St. posed a radiological or biological risk, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the state Department of Environmental Protection. No mercury or poison was found. Some of the compounds are potentially explosive, but no more dangerous than typical household cleaning products. All potentially hazardous materials were removed from the house, which the Deebs have owned since 1988. A cleanup company, contracted by DEP DEP Deposit DEP Deputy DEP Department of Environmental Protection DEP Dependent DEP Departure DEP Depot DEP Deposition DEP deployed (US DoD) DEP Data Execution Prevention (computer security) , is continuing to test the chemicals in a lab. "Ultimately, they will be disposed of," said DEP spokesman Joseph M. Ferson, who said the city's Department of Public Works public works pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. is making sure nothing seeped into the sewer lines Noun 1. sewer line - a main in a sewage system sewer main main - a principal pipe in a system that distributes water or gas or electricity or that collects sewage . Mr. Deeb declined to comment yesterday. Authorities say he has patents pending and had been using his basement as a science lab to conduct experiments, possibly for many years. Firefighters found more than 1,500 vials, jars, cans, bottles and boxes in the basement Tuesday afternoon, after they responded to an unrelated fire in an air conditioner on the second floor of the home. Vessels of chemicals were all over the furniture and the floor, authorities said. The ensuing en·sue intr.v. en·sued, en·su·ing, en·sues 1. To follow as a consequence or result. See Synonyms at follow. 2. To take place subsequently. investigation involved a state hazardous materials team, fire and police officials, health officials, environmental officials and code enforcement Code Enforcement is the act of enforcing a set of s, principles, or laws (especially written ones) and insuring observance of a system of norms or customs. An authority usually enforces a civil code, a set of rules, or a body of laws and compel those subject to their authority to officials. The Deebs were told to stay in a hotel while the slew of officials investigated and emptied the basement. Pamela A. Wilderman, Marlboro's code enforcement officer, said Mr. Deeb was doing scientific research and development in a residential area, which is a violation of zoning laws. "It is a residential home in a residential neighborhood," she said. "This is Mr. Deeb's hobby. He's still got bunches of ideas. I think Mr. Deeb has crossed a line somewhere. This is not what we would consider to be a customary home occupation. ... There are regulations about how much you're supposed to have, how it's detained de·tain tr.v. de·tained, de·tain·ing, de·tains 1. To keep from proceeding; delay or retard. 2. To keep in custody or temporary confinement: , how it's disposed of." Mr. Deeb's home lab likely violated the regulations of many state and local departments, although officials have not yet announced any penalties. "He's been very cooperative," Ms. Wilderman said. "I won't be citing him for anything right at this moment." |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion