Contractor to Pay $18,500 Fine for Asbestos Violations

Grafton County Superior Court approved a settlement between the State and a contractor who violated State’s asbestos management and control regulations, according to Attorney General Michael A. Delaney and Commissioner Thomas S. Burack, of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

Wed 3/17/2010

Defendant Lee Jackson has agreed to pay a penalty of $18,500, $5,000 of which will be paid to the State. $13,500 will be suspended if the defendant does not violate the settlement or State asbestos management and control regulations again within two years of the entry of the settlement agreement.

According to the lawsuit filed by the state, the defendant violated the Asbestos Management and Control Act and State asbestos regulations by demolishing buildings in Bath, Whitefield, and Hebron without performing inspections for asbestos-containing materials and without informing the Department of Environmental Services at least ten days before beginning the demolition work.

Asbestos regulations are meant to protect workers and the public from being exposed to toxic asbestos fibers. Inhalation of asbestos fibers may result in terminal diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma.

Commissioner Burack said asbestos is still present in many homes and other structures all through the State and therefore it is mandatory to conduct asbestos inspection prior to the demolition of any building. A trained asbestos inspector should be hired for the purpose, Burack said.

Attorney General Delaney said contractors must abide by the asbestos management and control regulations.

“Those who ignore inspection and notification requirements, such as Mr. Jackson, should be penalized,” Delaney said.

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