California Hospital, Contractor Pay EPA Fine

A California hospital and contractor have agreed to pay the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a $5,802 fine for allegedly violating the federal Clean Air Act’s asbestos regulations in a demolition project, according to a report in the Appeal-Democrat (Marysville-Yuba City, Calif.).

Hospital officials maintain they only settled out of court to avoid legal fees, according to the report.

Each party agreed to pay $2,901 for the alleged violation. Rideout Memorial Hospital, Yuba City, Calif., hired H&H Trenching Inc. of Marysville, Calif., in June 2005 to demolish a house to make room for a parking lot. Hospital officials tell the Appeal-Democrat that the hospital obtained all the city permits for demolition, but did not notify the EPA because it was not necessary and that the EPA did not say there was an asbestos problem.