St. Louis County fire district accused of asbestos violations
The Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District in St. Louis County has been accused by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources of several asbestos-related violations. A letter from the DNR claims that the fire district had removed and disposed of tiles that may have contained asbestos in an improper manner, and then it blocked inspectors who had come to investigate the allegations. The fire district is also accused of failing to inspect for asbestos-containing materials prior to renovation, failing to use a registered asbestos abatement contractor for asbestos removal and failing to comply with emission control procedures and waste disposal standards.
The fire district’s response denied the allegation, stating that air quality testing reveals no asbestos in the air, and that it was exercising its Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches when it prevented inspectors from entering its administrative offices. The DNR gave the fire district until July 21 to respond to a $70,000 settlement offer.
For the full story, go to St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
