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.

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A recent report in the Khaleej Times says asbestos is still readily available in Dubai on the black market, despite a government ban on the substance. While representatives from the Dubai Municipality Environment Department say they are not aware of any black market trading of the hazardous material, the news agency says industry sources confirm it is easy to find illegal asbestos sales in Deira and Satwa.

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Demolition at a downtown Champaign, Ill., site continues today after a brief halt to remove asbestos-containing materials found last Tuesday. According to a report in The News-Gazette, asbestos was found covering pipes in the walls of a building on Neil Street.

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In a news release dated Sept. 30, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it was fining the Los Angeles Department or Water and Power (LADWP) just over $9,000 for violations of the Clean Air Act asbestos regulations. In the release, the EPA says the city agency demolished structures without propertly notifying the EPA.

Although the LADWP owned the structures, located near Niland, Calif., government regulations still require that the EPA be notified of demolition before it occurs, in compliance with the Natural Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants regulations for asbestos.

The measure is in place as a precaution, to avoid accidentally releasing harmful asbestos fibers into the air, says Deborah Jordan, director of the Air Division for the EPA’s Pacific and Southwest region. She is quoted as saying, “We can avoid creating a public health threat from airborne asbestos by following the safeguards required by law.”

The inhalation of asbestos can cause serious illness including asbestosis and mesothelioma, a deadly cancer affecting the lining of the lungs and abdomen.

The news release did not report any danger as a result of the building demolition.