Marco Island may face huge fines for burying asbestos pipe debris
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has discovered that Marco Island, Florida crushed up and buried more than 260 feet of asbestos pipe while constructing Collier Boulevard back in 2006. Some of that material may still be buried under Veteran’s Park.
For the improper handling and disposal of asbestos-containing materials, the EPA is looking to fine the city and contractor Quality Enterprise up to $37,500 per day of violation. The potential violations began in 2006, and the construction site that became Veteran’s Community Park was not cleaned up until 2007. The fines could add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The EPA has opened an investigation. City officials claim that there was no indication of the amount of asbestos present in the buried pipe material, and that there were no regulatory requirements that applied to the asbestos removal at the time, but they plan to cooperate with the EPA investigation.
For the full story, go to WZVN.
