Asbestos Fees Challenged in Buffalo, NY

In January 2009, the Buffalo News reported on a controversy regarding the asbestos notification fee the State of New York requires for all asbestos removal and remediation projects in NY.

Many elected officials in Buffalo object to the $1,000 per property fee as excessive in light of current economic conditions and the number of vacant properties on the city’s demolition list. The city’s Chief of Inspections expressed concern that the fee limits the number of properties the city is able to demolish each year.

With over 7,000 vacant buildings on the city’s demolition list, the city would be unable to continue their program calling for 1,000 buildings to be demolished each year.  Buffalo’s current economic status ranks it as one of the poorest cities in the U.S., leaving the city unable to budget $1 million each year for the abatement fees.

Sen. William T. Stachowski, the chair of New York’s Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee, has stated that he agrees with his Buffalo constituents. The Senator announced he will introduce legislation to waive or reduce the fee for demolition projects in the city.

Exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer and asbestosis.

Weitz & Luxenberg is a leading plaintiffs' law firm that has represented people affected by mesothelioma for over 20 years. Men and women diagnosed with mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure may be entitled to compensation from the companies responsible for their disease.

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