Two Vermont companies fined by EPA for asbestos violations
JIDDU/SIDDU Trust, a real estate company in Colchester, Vermont, and CRC Excavating LLC, a demolition company in Middlesex, Vermont, have been fined a combined $29,308 for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Asbestos (Asbestos NESHAP). The two companies demolished buildings on two residential lots back in March 2008 as part of an apartment building construction project on the combined lot.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that CRC and JIDDU/SIDDU failed to inspect the buildings for asbestos prior to demolition and also failed to provide the EPA with prior written notification of the demolition, which is required under federal asbestos demolition standards. Over 75,000 pounds of demolition debris from the site was disposed of as non-asbestos containing waste at a waste transfer station without proper inspection. The real estate company did limited testing of debris that remained after demolition, which did not identify any asbestos remaining on the property.
The Clean Air Act and Asbestos NESHAP require both property owners and demolition/renovation operators to obey certain notification and inspection requirements before beginning such operations. They also require them to obey certain work practice and waste disposal requirements when regulated asbestos-containing material is identified. The asbestos violations could have created significant health risks for the community and demolition employees, but the EPA is not currently aware that these alleged violations have caused any specific harm.
For the full story, go to EPA.gov.
