officials went on a fact-finding mission to the US.

Several blocks of the deadly substance are still safely stored in thermal bags in containers dotted around Bermuda.

Some of the asbestos is on the site of the old US Naval Air base at Southside, St. David's, which is being prepared for a 30-year redevelopment.

The cancer-causing fibres have also been discovered in some Bermuda quarries and Environment Minister John Irving Pearman said asbestos was occasionally found when old buildings were demolished.

But he added that two Government technical advisers had been to Washington State to visit an asbestos recycling plant which produces a safe, toxic-free material.

And Mr. Pearman said Bermuda could develop its own asbestos recycling plant if the process was considered a success during a second official trip to the US.

The recycled product can be mixed with concrete or used in aggregate for road surfaces, he added.

"The asbestos we have is safely stored at the moment,'' said Mr. Pearman.

"It is packaged in thermal bags and environmentally sound.

"The problem we have is deciding what to do with it. We could ship the asbestos to other countries and they would take it but if anything went wrong, we would become liable and open to paying untold sums in damages.

"If a recycling plant is proved to work, then I favour it in principle.

"So far we do not know of any side effects and the process appears clean, not emitting pollution.'' He said Government's chief engineer and chief environmental officer, who went to the US to see the plant, were reviewing documents about the recycling process.

Mr. Pearman added that the pair planned a second trip "to see the process in action''.

He said the plant used thermal chemicals and heated the asbestos in a furnace to remove any dangerous substances.

The Minister added: "The end product can be mixed with ingredients for concrete or used for road surfacing.

"This process has been developed over the past couple of years in America and environmental groups there have given it their seal of approval.

"The entire plant is very compact and fits into two 40-foot containers so it would not even require any building work here.

"And it appears there is no waste stream that can escape into the atmosphere.'' Shadow Environment Minister Leon (Jimmy) Williams said the Opposition Progressive Labour Party also supported the recycling plant in principle.

He said he was the first MP to suggest the process idea in the House of Assembly.

But Mr. Williams called for a thorough investigation before a decision was taken to assemble a plant in Bermuda.

GOVERNMENT GVT