Demo Contractor, Real Estate Developer to Pay Violation Penalties

A Vermont real estate developer and its demolition contractor together have agreed to pay $15,000 for alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act and the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Asbestos.

In March 2008, the JIDDU/SITTU Trust of Colchester, Vt., and CRC Excavating LLC, Middlesex, Vt., demolished buildings on two residential lots as part of a commercial project.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), JIDDU/SITTU and CRC failed to thoroughly inspect for asbestos prior to demolishing the buildings and failed to provide EPA with prior written notification of its intent to demolish, as required under federal asbestos demolition standards.

About 75,106 pounds of uninspected demolition debris were removed from the two properties and disposed of at a waste transfer station.

The federal Clean Air Act and the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Asbestos require owners and operators of demolition and renovation operations to follow certain inspection and notification requirements prior to beginning such operations, and to abide by specific work practice and waste disposal requirements when the owners and operators identify the presence of regulated asbestos-containing material. Vermont also has demolition/renovation reporting and asbestos inspection requirements administered by the Vermont Department of Health.