An Oregon developer and construction firm working on property rehabilitation and redevelopment projects will pay penalties of $37,500 for alleged asbestos-related violations of the Clean Air Act during renovation of the Commodore Apartments in The Dalles, Oregon in May 2001. On behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the Department of Justice has filed a complaint accusing the two companies of failing to provide advance notice of the asbestos removal, failing to properly wet the asbestos-containing materials and place them in leak-proof containers, failing to keep a trained supervisor on site during the asbestos removal, dumping the asbestos-containing waste in a landfill without properly labeling it, and failing to properly document the asbestos waste removed from the site. The EPA is hoping to use this situation to educate building owners, developers and contractors about the requirements for advance notification and asbestos-contamination precautions during demolition or renovation. Asbestos fibers disturbed during renovation work can expose workers and community members to increased risk of mesothelioma and other forms of cancer.
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