Asbestos Removal Violations at SUNY New Paltz, NY Renovation Project

In June 2009, the New York State Department of Labor ordered that renovation work at a dorm building on the SUNY New Paltz, NY campus be stopped after it was determined that asbestos was being improperly removed.

A state inspector making a routine visit to the campus found the construction firm renovating the building was removing asbestos from the basement of the building. The inspector also determined the asbestos removal work was not being performed in accordance with state regulations. The dorm building had been closed before renovations had begun, so there was no risk to students, faculty or SUNY staff.

The school will not be cited for the violation; however, the state is still investigating the violations to determine whether the New Jersey-based contracting firm will be fined in this case.

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