July 11, 2008 – The New Mexico Environmental Department recently issued Border Demolition and Environmental, Inc. with a compliance order after the Texas contractor failed to follow state asbestos regulations.

The contractor was working at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, and failed to notify the Environmental Department before carrying out asbestos-related work on the project. The company apparently collected several bags of asbestos waste.

Jim Norton, division director of the Environmental Protection Division, stated, “the White Sands managers and contractors working at the Missile Range were aware that asbestos-containing concrete pipes were present at the site, but failed to inform the state department.”

Notification of the presence of any asbestos-containing materials on such a site is required by state law, due to the hazards associated with working around asbestos.

Inhalation of asbestos fibers is the only known cause of asbestosis and mesothelioma. Once inhaled, these fibers attach to the linings of the lungs (pleura), heart (pericardium), and abdominal cavities (peritoneum). Mesothelioma is particularly serious and is invariably fatal.

According to State Air Quality regulations, contractors must determine whether there is any asbestos present in a building before starting demolition or renovation work. If asbestos is located, the contractors must file a notification form with the Environmental Department’s Air Quality Bureau before work can begin.

Due to failure of proper notification, Border Demolition and Environmental, Inc. face fines of up to $15,000 per day. In addition, the company may face a fine of up to $5,000 a day for failing to account for the bags of asbestos.

Other contractors on the project, as well as White Sands Missile Range, may also face fines or enforcement actions because of the incident.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 11th, 2008 at 10:59 am and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos Legislation, Asbestos Litigation, Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.