Massachusetts AG’s Asbestos Enforcement Protects Public and Employees from Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Diseases
The presence of in-place asbestos presents a significant risk of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases for workers and the public alike. The Attorney General of Massachusetts has made a point of pursuing companies that fail to comply with regulations regarding asbestos management and recently pursued two companies that illegally disposed of asbestos-contaminated materials during the demolition of a power station. The companies and the state recently entered a $200,000 consent judgment.
Failure to Comply with Asbestos Regulations Puts People at Risk of Mesothelioma
Failure to comply with asbestos regulations is a significant concern, as legacy asbestos used to build power plants, schools, and even homes presents a real risk of malignant mesothelioma. It is this risk that has driven the Massachusetts Attorney General and Department of Environmental Protection to ensure that these cases are pursued. Their enforcement has resulted in nearly $8 million in civil penalties over eight years.
With the risk of mesothelioma in mind, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell pursued Holtec Decommissioning International LLC and its affiliate Holtec Pilgrim LLC, accusing them of improperly handling asbestos-containing demolition debris while tasked with the demolition of a decommissioned power station. In addition to improper disposal of the debris, the companies were accused of failure to survey and identify the carcinogenic material and of failure to notify the state of its presence before beginning the work.
$200,000 Consent Judgment Sends Powerful Message About Actions to Prevent Mesothelioma
Putting the public at risk of mesothelioma is a serious concern for the Attorney General, a fact made clear by her having sought civil penalties of $25,000 for each day of the companies’ violations, in addition to a court order demanding future compliance with state and federal laws. In granting the $200,000 consent judgment, all allegations against the company are resolved. Notably, the companies are prohibited from paying the penalty with monies from a fund that was created by charges to ratepayers that financed its decommissioning
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