Press Release  AG's Office Secures Settlement Up to $300,000 Against Auburn Supermarket for Improper and Illegal Asbestos Abatement Work

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced today that it has reached an agreement with Imperial Park ‘n Shop (Imperial) -- a local supermarket located in Auburn, Massachusetts -- to resolve allegations that the company violated the Massachusetts Clean Air Act and state asbestos regulations during the removal of asbestos-containing floor tiles within the supermarket without using proper removal, handling, and storage practices. 

Asbestos is a hazardous material and known human carcinogen regulated under the Clean Air Act. It is used as fireproofing in a wide variety of building materials, from roofing and flooring, to siding and wallboard, to caulking and insulation, and is especially prevalent in older construction. If asbestos is improperly handled or maintained, fibers can be released into the air and inhaled, devastating the lungs, causing scarring, malfunction, and potentially life-threatening illnesses, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Once disturbed, asbestos fibers can remain airborne and therefore breathable for up to 72 hours. Because of the serious health risks associated with asbestos, there is no safe level of exposure. 

Under the terms of the Consent Judgment entered by the Superior Court on September 8, 2025, Imperial will pay up to $300,000 in civil penalties, with an initial payment of $240,000 to be paid within thirty days. $150,000 of initial payment will be deposited into the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Trust to support on-the-ground projects that address environmental harms in disadvantaged communities across the Commonwealth. Additionally, the Executive Vice President responsible for permitting the improper asbestos abatement work at Imperial must complete an Asbestos Operations and Maintenance training course conducted by an accredited trainer from the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards and provide a certificate of completion from the accredited trainer within the next six months. Up to $60,000 in penalties are eligible for suspension upon compliance with the terms of the Consent Judgment, including future compliance with the Clean Air Act and asbestos regulations. 

The Consent Judgment comes as a result of allegations that Imperial violated Massachusetts asbestos regulations by directing store employees to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles each night after closing, from September 11 to September 14, 2022, without proper containment or air filtration. The store then reopened to customers each of the following mornings. According to the AGO, Imperial repeatedly failed to safely store asbestos-containing materials and improperly handled asbestos-containing materials, risking the safety of its employees and the public in the surrounding area. Acting on an anonymous tip, local and state officials from the Town of Auburn and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) inspected and ordered Imperial’s immediate closure. Subsequent testing revealed that as a result of the tile removal, asbestos fibers were found on cash registers and on food products throughout the store. 

The AGO is committed to using all the tools at its disposal to ensure that every Massachusetts resident can live in healthy and safe communities. If you believe that you may have been exposed to asbestos at work, home, school, or in public, please file a report with MassDEP, or call the AGO at 617-727-8400. 

This case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Edwin Ward of the AGO’s Environmental Protection Division, with assistance from MassDEP Central Region Chief Regional Counsel Anne Blackman, Counsel Rebecca Gobeil, and Environmental Analyst Christa Cronk.   

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