EPA Says More Commercial Property Owners "Taking Easy Way Out" When Removing Asbestos

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is discovering that more and more business owners are breaking the law when it comes to hiring individuals to remove toxic asbestos materials from buildings they own. An article in the Bucks County Intelligencer sites, in particular, the recent case of a suburban Philadelphia man who was indicted after hiring day laborers with no training to remove asbestos from one of his commercial properties. The scenario, says David McLeod Jr., special agent in charge of the Philadelphia area, is not as unusual as some might think. As a matter of fact, it's becoming more and more common. Because of the expense involved in hiring licensed asbestos contractors, some commercial property owners "take the easy way out, the cheap way out," said McLeod. "We believe the defendant [in Willow Grove, PA] knowingly directed the illegal removal of demolition debris containing asbestos," McLeod explained. "This case demonstrates that those who try to make money by breaking the law and damaging the environment will be vigorously prosecuted." The EPA, says McLeod, doesn't want to hurt business owners by imposing fines or prison sentences, but he says there needs to be a "level playing field". "Our intent is never to put anybody out of business. It simply is that if you're cutting corners, you are creating an unfair advantage, because the cost of the job is then lower than that of a licensed contractor who does the job properly," he said. McLeod added that, too often, those trying to save money hire undocumented workers with language issues that don't even know that they're doing anything dangerous. As a result, these individuals suffer asbestos exposure and may eventually develop diseases such as mesothelioma cancer or asbestosis. Martin Harrell, an attorney with EPA's criminal enforcement arm, says the agency has two to four asbestos-related investigations going on at any given time, proof of the number of individuals who are disregarding asbestos removal laws. There may be others that aren't caught, so the number is likely much higher.

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