MassDEP Fines Wilbraham Landlords $20,000
for Asbestos Removal Violations

MassDEP’s action is the result of a complaint from a tenant that Mr. Campbell had illegally removed asbestos thermal insulation from a boiler to facilitate its replacement, and had placed trash bags full of asbestos-containing waste at the curbside without following the necessary asbestos notification, handling and disposal procedures. During the removal activity, vibrations of the pipes that extend from the boiler room into the complainant’s basement level apartment caused the asbestos to delaminate and fall onto the floor of the apartment.

In addition, during an inspection conducted on September 9, 2008, MassDEP found pieces of remnant asbestos thermal insulation on the basement stairs, and boiler demolition debris bearing remnant asbestos thermal insulation on the ground outside the boiler room entrance. At the MassDEP’s directive, Mrs. Campbell retained a licensed asbestos abatement contractor to clean up the property.

“In this case, the proper removal of the asbestos by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor would have been far less costly than what was ultimately paid in penalties and additional clean-up costs,” said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP’s Western Regional Office in Springfield.

As part of a settlement agreement with MassDEP, the Campbells will pay $12,000 of the penalty.  The remaining $8,000 will be suspended during a one-year probationary period.

Property owners or contractors with questions about asbestos-containing materials, notification requirements, proper removal, handling, packaging, storage and disposal procedures, or the asbestos regulations are encouraged to contact the appropriate MassDEP regional office for assistance.  More information on asbestos, including health effects, can be obtained from MassDEP’s web site: http://www.mass.gov/dep/air/asbguid.htm

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