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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The results of a recent inspection of the historic 1820 Courthouse and the adjacent Plymouth County Commissioner’s building in Plymouth, Massachusetts, has resulted in an estimate topping $600,000 for recommended and required renovations and repairs to meet environmental standards. According to a report in the Wicked Local Plymouth, the assessment was completed by Atlantic Environmental Technologies, Inc., of New Bedford, and includes plans for removal of asbestos, lead and three underground storage tanks.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently fined five Arizona charter school operators for violations of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. There is no immediate danger to students, faculty or the community, but the schools failed to conduct federally required safety inspections to ensure there was no asbestos-containing material present, and did not have in place an asbestos management plan, also a requirement. Fines totaled close to $40,000 for all five schools.

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Attorneys representing the defendants in a mesothelioma death case prevented a New Jersey family from burying husband and father Harold St. John, according to a story in the New Jersey Star-Ledger. On the day of the scheduled burial, a judge ordered the funeral home to hold the body and return it to the coroner’s office until a decision is made whether or not an autopsy will be allowed. The matter is now in Superior Court in New Brunswick, N.J.

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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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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Feb. 5 that Anderson-Wilcox Corp. and Cutting Edge Concepts II LLC have agreed to pay a fine of $300,000 for improper removal and disposal of asbestos at a New Haven, Conn., site. This is a settlement agreement between the companies, the EPA, and the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Connecticut.

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A story published last week in the Daily Press, which serves Newport News, Virginia, reports a new approach to litigation on behalf of mesothelioma victims injured by asbestos exposure on the job. The story involves Stanley Morton, who worked in the shipyard for 33 years as an electrician. He contracted mesothelioma in 2005 after being exposed to asbestos fibers throughout his career, and died at age 72 in 2007. His family sought compensation from Exxon (now Exxon-Mobil) – the company that owned some of the ships Morton worked on – instead of any parts suppliers, a groundbreaking departure from the usual path for such suits.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that a 2004 law imposing stricter rules on those suing for asbestos-related injuries can be applied to cases pending before the legislation was passed, a move that could frustrate thousands of people seeking claims.

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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.