Missouri demolition company faces penalties over asbestos violations

Nov 20, 2009

Clifton Farm & Excavating Co. of Perryville, Missouri is facing penalties over asbestos violations from a demolition job that took place back in June. The Missouri Air Conservation Commission voted to seek legal action after the demolition company failed to respond to the commission’s attempts to settle the case. The demolition company was cited for failing to obtain an asbestos inspection and failing to provide notice of a demolition job.

Clifton Farms demolished two Perryville homes for the Bank of Missouri earlier this year. On June 15, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducted an inspection and discovered the lack of demolition notice and asbestos inspection. When a single home is demolished, neither the asbestos inspection nor demolition notice is needed. But when two adjacent homes are demolished, both requirements apply.

On July 15, the DNR sent Clifton Farms a registered letter seeking to settle the case for $4,000. Owner Bernard Clifton turned the letter over to the bank, as the bank owned the land and had hired him for the demolition. Clifton stated that he didn’t have any trouble obtaining a city demolition permit and that he thought he’d met all the requirements when he did the work. He said that the bank should clear up the matter, and that the $4,000 fine is more than he was paid for the job.

Asbestos regulations exist to protect the public from exposure to the toxic substance. Asbestos exposure can lead to a number of serious illnesses, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. The amount of any potential fine in this case is now up to the discretion of the state attorney general’s office.

For the full story, go to Southeast Missourian.

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