Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

A story on Justice News Flash.com reports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cited two Vermont companies, a demolition firm and a real estate company, saying they violated federal laws by neglecting to inspect for asbestos prior to beginning work on a job site and failing to properly dispose of debris possibly containing asbestos. The companies, Trust and CRC Evacuating, were charged with violations of the Clean Air Act and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.

EPA regulations require companies involved in demolition, renovation and construction projects to notify the agency prior to the start of a demolition and construction project, and to follow specific guidelines, standards and laws to ensure worker and consumer safety, including safe disposal of waste from the job site. Demolition of a structure that contains asbestos without proper safeguards may result in secondary exposure to asbestos for residents, workers and others in the area of the demolition.

Asbestos is most dangerous when it is disturbed, as in a project of this nature, and the fibers are released in asbestos dust, which can be inhaled. The inhalation and ingestion of asbestos fibers puts the exposed person at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases including asbestosis, a severe scarring of the lungs, or mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that affects the lining of the chest and lungs or, more rarely, the abdomen and/or heart. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma, for which there is currently no known cure.

According to the JusticeNewsFlash, the Vermont job site in question involves the demolition of two buildings at 231 and 235 Pearl Strteet, in Essex Junction. The demolition is part of a project to clear a lot for construction of a new apartment building. The news report says the EPA documented more than 75,000 pounds of demolition debris that was removed from the job site and disposed of without proper measures for asbestos safety.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 14th, 2009 at 4:27 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.