| |
|
|
|
| You Are Here:
Mesothelioma.net Blog |
|
Posts Tagged ‘EPA’
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Another violation to the federal asbestos regulations has been discovered in Arizona. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined Pointe Educational Services and The Charter Foundation $22,030 for violations stemming from lack of asbestos inspections on seven Arizona schools. Furthermore, the schools did not have an asbestos management plan.
After a professional asbestos inspection, only one of the seven Arizona schools had any asbestos-containing products.
It is important to comply with state and federal regulations regarding asbestos abatement and management in order to keep both workers and individuals safe from the dangers of asbestos exposure. More information on the EPA’s regulations on asbestos in schools can be found here.
Tags: asbestos, EPA
Posted in News | No Comments »
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
In a location about 65 miles east of Syracuse, NY, as much as 60 tons of asbestos-contaminated materials were dumped in a farm field. John Deck of Norwood, N.J. pled guilty to this illegal act and admitted to using a phony state permit and several truckers to carry out this unsafe job.
This crime can have a penalty that includes a fine of up to $250,000 and up to five years in federal prison. Deck will be sentenced in the Utica U.S. District Court next January. The investigation is still continuing and he is also expected to pay some of the asbestos removal costs, which are anticipated to be in the millions of dollars.
Strict guidelines are explained by organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on how to properly, efficiently, and safely dispose of asbestos. These rules are for the safety of not only anyone directly involved with asbestos, but also the larger surrounding community that may be exposed.
Tags: asbestos, EPA, OSHA
Posted in News | No Comments »
Thursday, August 27th, 2009
An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigator confirmed finding asbestos in a dumpster behind an Atlanta shopping center. Debris was removed from a nearby construction site at the shopping center and placed in a regular dumpster. People were concerned about the presence of asbestos and contacted the EPA.
Hazmat crews were called in to remove the dumpster contents and send them for testing. Asbestos was confirmed present in the floor tiling found in the dumpster. The EPA notified the landlord about the asbestos and that appropriate asbestos removal procedures should be carried out. The landlord hired a firm that specializes in hazardous removal to take care of the problem.
Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma, an asbestos cancer found most frequently in the tissues surrounding lungs, but also in the tissues around the abdomen and heart. There is no cure for mesothelioma, and because of the latency period of approximately 30 years, it is often diagnosed in the late stages of the disease, but not always.
Time is critical after receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma, and gathering information can be overwhelming. Our mesothelioma family advocates are available to answer your questions, so please contact us to learn more about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma.
Tags: asbestos, EPA, mesothelioma
Posted in News | No Comments »
Friday, July 17th, 2009
Asbestos contamination in Libby and Troy, Montana have created such a public health concern that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Health and Human Services (HHS) used the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) to implement further clean-up action and health care for residents. The incidences of asbestosis, a lung disease caused by asbestos exposure, is significantly higher in the Libby area than the national average for the period from 1979-1998. Asbestos exposure is also the primary cause of mesothelioma.
Two HHS agencies are tasked with helping Libby and Troy residents who need medical care. A grant proposal is in the works that will lay out options for the much needed medical care. HHS anticipates the grant to be awarded in August, 2009.
A vermiculite mine was discovered in 1881 by gold miners. The Zonolite Company began mining this asbestos in the 1920s, and sold the operations to W.R. Grace in 1963. The mine closed in 1990.
The Libby asbestos site has been on the EPA’s Superfund National Priorities List since 2002, and while these efforts have reduced asbestos exposure, release of asbestos still remains a major threat to the community. Newly appointed EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said “This is a tragic public health situation that has not received the recognition it deserves by the federal government for far too long. We’re making a long-delayed commitment to the people of Libby and Troy. Based on a rigorous re-evaluation of the situation on the ground, we will continue to move aggressively on the cleanup efforts and protect the health of the people.”
The hope is the grant will make quality health care more accessible, as well as provide additional resources to clean-up asbestos in the area.
Tags: asbestos, EPA, mesothelioma, vermiculite, WR Grace
Posted in News | No Comments »
Monday, April 27th, 2009
The Pennsylvania Observer-Reporter recently reported that a home approved for a fire department practice burn contained asbestos; samples of the home collected for a required Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test were allegedly tampered with to hide the presence of asbestos.
Two volunteer firemen, both veterans of the MacDonald, PA fire department and assistant chiefs, were implicated in a criminal affidavit that claims they were aware from a first test that asbestos was present in the exterior siding – and then advised a third party to take a second test avoiding the siding and only submit the second test with their burn permit application to the EPA.
Two days after the burn, the EPA’s emergency response unit tested the site in response to reports of toxic smoke and found evidence of asbestos in the rubble. Because smoke and ash debris covered the area, it is probable that onlookers and other firefighters were exposed to asbestos.
The men face charges of arson, causing or risking a catastrophe, unlawful conduct, criminal conspiracy, and other possible charges.
This situation raises a number of questions:
- Why would volunteer firefighters, both highly commended, take such an alleged risk with public safety?
- Why is it, after decades of warnings and legislation about asbestos, is it still being released into our environment?
- How many more victims of asbestos related disease, such as mesothelioma, do there have to be? Can we hope for an end anytime soon?
Please chime in with your comments.
Tags: asbestos, EPA, fire department, mesothelioma
Posted in News | No Comments »
|
|
|
|
|
|
