St. Louis, Missouri Fire District Charged With Alleged Asbestos Violations

On July 9, 2009, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) had accused a north St. Louis County fire district of several asbestos-related violations.

As the result of a 2008 investigation of the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District, several violations of state and federal regulations regarding the handling and disposal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) were discovered.

MoDNR inspectors discovered the district had removed and disposed of potentially asbestos-containing tiles from the district's administration building. MoDNR also alleges the district interfered with the investigation by allegedly refusing to allow inspectors to enter the rennovation site.

MoDNR has charged the District with:

Failing to allow investigators access to the building to inspect the renovation project;

Failing to hire a certified asbestos abatement contractor to perform the work;

Failing to have the building inspected for the presence of asbestos-containing materials before beginning the renovation project; and

Failing to comply with emission-control procedures and waste-disposal standards for asbestos-containg materials.

The MoDNR has proposed a $70,000 fine to settle the violations. The district must respond to the settlement offer by July 21, 2009 or MoDNR will turn the matter over to the Missouri Attorney General’s office.

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

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos illness, contact our lawyers today for a free review of your case. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.