All News Releases By Date

EPA SETTLES ASBESTOS CASE WITH FORT SHAFTER

Release Date: 7/9/2002
Contact Information: Mike Ardito, (415) 972-3081, ardito.michael@epa.gov

     Subcontractor Precision Demolition To Pay $26,400 Penalty
                                                 
    SAN FRANCISCO   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last month settled its case against the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii at Fort Shafter and its subcontractor,  Precision Demolition and Construction Inc. of Hawaii, which will pay $26,400 for alleged asbestos removal violations in March 2000.

     Fort Shafter will fund specified asbestos abatement projects at three schools in Hawaii.

     "The EPA requires government agencies to follow laws for protecting human health and the environment," said Jack Broadbent, the EPA's air division director for the Pacific Southwest region.  "Children attending three schools in Hawaii will soon receive health benefits from the absence of asbestos building materials in their school."
 
    On Sept. 28, the EPA filed a complaint against Fort Shafter and Precision for several alleged violations of the Clean Air Act's standards for hazardous air pollutants for asbestos during the demolition of a building in the Fort Shafter Flats near Honolulu.

     The alleged violations included failure to keep asbestos-containing material adequately wet during stripping operations and until it was collected for disposal.  Also, visible emissions of asbestos-containing material were allegedly discharged to the outside air during collection.

     Asbestos is a known environmental carcinogen that the EPA has determined is a hazardous air pollutant.  It presents a significant risk to human health as a result of air emissions.  Individuals exposed to asbestos fibers can contract asbestos-related diseases.

     Safe exposure levels to asbestos have not been established, so it is advised that exposures be minimized.  The asbestos regulations include procedures to control the release of asbestos fibers during demolition and renovation activities.