Epa and east liverpool finally reach an agreement on asbestos fine

Several months after proposing the initial fine, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has finally reached an agreement with the city of East Liverpool. The city strenuously opposed the EPA’s fine, claiming it had already paid for an improper asbestos handling incident. The incident that sparked the fine came to light in May 2006, and involved Street Department Supervisor Earl Taylor, who hired a contractor to remove asbestos-containing pipe insulation from a city-owned building. Around 500 linear feet of pipe insulation was removed from the building, which Taylor then buried at a clean landfill site on property that the city also owned. Several days later, then-Service Safety Director William Cowan notified the Ohio EPA about the asbestos removal and disposal due to safety concerns. The removal and disposal of the asbestos turned out to be illegal. The asbestos removal was carried out with the knowledge or consent of the Ohio EPA, and the agency also says the removal did not adhere to necessary safety standards. In addition the asbestos that was removed was disposed of at a landfill site that was not equipped to safely handle asbestos waste. Asbestos removal must be carried out carefully to prevent the spread of asbestos dust, which can cause asbestos-related cancers and other serious diseases if inhaled. Typical asbestos removal includes wet-removal procedures to dampen materials and prevent dust dispersing. Disposing of asbestos safely is another important issue, as asbestos at landfill sites can present a health hazard to anyone working or visiting the site. Asbestos can only be disposed of at waste sites that are equipped to handle hazardous materials. Several days after the incident was discovered, workers from Cardinal Environmental Services cleaned up the remaining asbestos at the removal site, and cleaned up the landfill. The EPA subsequently proposed a fine of $30,000, which was vigorously opposed by the town. Officials said the fine should not have been so large, as the town had already cleaned up the asbestos, Taylor himself had been fined, and the town had voluntarily notified the EPA of the problems and made no efforts to cover up the asbestos mishandling incident. Now, the city has formally agreed to pay a fine of $5,000, after meeting with the EPA several times to ask for a reduction. Around $4,000 of the money will go to the Ohio EPA, while the remaining $1,000 will be contributed to the agency’s Clean Diesel School Bus Program Fund. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)