The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently settled its case against three companies: Victoria Ward Ltd., Island Demo Inc., and Coralco Corp. The settlement requires the three companies pay $24,966 for alleged asbestos removal violations at a facility in Honolulu, HI.
The complaint against the three companies, filed last September, is for alleged violations of the EPA's Clean Air Act asbestos regulations covering the emission, handling, and disposal of asbestos, as well as record-keeping and notification requirements.
The three companies have agreed to pay a total fine of $22,166 for the violations. Island Demo has also agreed to pay $2,800 for an alleged violation of the EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act regulations that require accreditation for those designing or conducting clean-ups involving friable asbestos in a public or commercial building.
Island Demo and its subcontractor Coralco were hired by Victoria Ward to remove asbestos-containing ceiling material from Club Laimu. The notification of demolition and renovation that Island Demo is required to submit to the Hawai'i Department of Health, scheduled the removal to begin on Jan. 26, 2000, but work actually started three days later.
In February 2000, a Hawai'i Department of Health asbestos inspector found dry, asbestos-containing ceiling debris throughout the area that Coralco workers abated. The inspector discovered that an Island Demo representative had designed a clean-up plan for the site without the required accreditation.