The Associated Press

FORT SMITH, Ark.—The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied a request to declare portions of Fort Chaffee a disaster area after a January fire tore through more than 100 acres there.

Ivy Owen, executive director of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, said officials hope to appeal the FEMA decision. However, state officials have said the group’s chances are slim to none as the site does not meet federal guidelines for the aid.

“With an estimate of $4.6 million to clean it up, it shackles us from our economic development,” Owen said Thursday during a visit by U.S. Rep John Boozman, R-Ark.

Boozman said the group needs to figure out what the cleanup will entail, the toxicity levels of the remains and whether a special landfill is needed for the debris and soil. The Jan. 29 fire destroyed more than 150 World War II-era buildings, many of which contained asbestos.

However, the problem is the asbestos isn’t considered hazardous, said Jerry Roberts, a member of the Sebastian County Department of Emergency Management. Instead, guidelines describe it as “special”— meaning it can go to local landfills.

“But that’s our problem. If it was considered hazardous, we could be considered for funding as an EPA Superfund site,” Roberts said.

Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality conducted tests done at the site, finding asbestos contamination ranging from 3 percent to 65 percent in some areas, particularly near the old boilers. Roberts said the department will require the debris and the asbestos be cleaned up.

In addition to its history with the Army—Elvis Presley had his famous haircut there when he joined the military—Fort Chaffee has taken in refugees from Cuba after the Mariel boatlift in 1980 and storm refugees in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina.