Iowa developer indicted on asbestos charges
Robert Knapp is a developer who was involved in the illegal removal of asbestos from the landmark Equitable Building in Iowa back in 2007, and Russell William Coco was his project supervisor. Both men now face 11 counts of violating the federal Clean Air Act.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) began their investigation into the matter based on an anonymous tip two years ago. Knapp originally scoffed at the charges and said that there was only a minute amount of asbestos in the building, but in 2009, he agreed to pay a record fine of $500,000 to state officials for the illegal asbestos removal. Since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined the investigation with the DNR, however, it was decided that both Knapp and Coco should face criminal charges with a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of $250,000 each.
According to the indictment, over 260 linear feet of asbestos was present on the building’s pipes, with another 160 square feet elsewhere in the building, exceeding federal standards that require prior notification of asbestos removal activities and the careful use of protective gear for specially trained staff who complete the asbestos remediation. The asbestos was not removed in an approved manner – it was removed with saws, scrapers, shovels and wheelbarrows – and it was transported in open containers to be disposed of in open trash bins. Knapp ordered an employee to conduct asbestos removal on the weekend in order to hide what was going on.
Knapp had previously been the subject of an asbestos investigation back in 2000, when the DNR cited him for failing to inspect a building before renovation work began, so he was aware of the federal guidelines. After a DNR inspection back in 2007, Knapp and Coco discussed the existence of a building plan that indicated the presence of asbestos, ordering a worker to get rid of it.
Asbestos removal is strictly regulated because of the health risks involved. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to serious illnesses like mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. When regulations are not followed, the health of workers and the general public are endangered.
For the full story, go to The Des Moines Register.
