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Rhode Island Demolition Company Face Fines for Clean Air Violations

Release Date: 10/06/2008
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. Oct. 6, 2008) - A Johnston, R.I. demolition company faces a penalty of $256,320 for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Asbestos (Asbestos NESHAP).

In 2004 - 2005, the Bilray Demolition Company, Inc. demolished the former Seaboard Foundry in Johnston, following a fire that occurred at the facility. When the Rhode Island Department of Health inspected the facility during the demolition, it found asbestos-containing materials in the facility.

EPA alleges that Bilray failed to thoroughly inspect for asbestos prior to demolishing the facility, failed to provide EPA with prior written notification of its intent to demolish, failed to adequately wet asbestos during its stripping operations, failed to keep asbestos adequately wet until it was collected and contained for disposal, and failed to properly dispose of asbestos waste.

The CAA and Asbestos NESHAP 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 will disturb regulated asbestos-containing material. Violations of these requirements can pose significant health risks to the communities where demolitions or renovations occur, as well as to employees conducting these operations, who could have been exposed to asbestos fibers during these activities.

In September 2005, Bilray conducted asbestos abatement at the facility. Bilray removed eighty-one cubic feet of regulated asbestos-containing material from the facility at that time.

For more information:

- Enforcement of the Clean Air Act in New England (epa.gov/ne/enforcement/air/index.html)

- Asbestos Information (https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/)