[CPEO-MEF] Subject: EPA SETTLES ASBESTOS CASE WITH FORT SHAFTER

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

For Immediate Release:  July 9, 2002

Contact:   Mike Ardito, (415) 972-3081, ardito.michael@epa.gov

Subcontractor Precision Demolition To Pay $26,400 Penalty

SAN FRANCISCO   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last month
settled its case against the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii at Fort Shafter
and its subcontractor,  Precision Demolition and Construction Inc. of
Hawaii, which will pay $26,400 for alleged asbestos removal violations
in March 2000.

Fort Shafter will fund specified asbestos abatement projects at
three schools in Hawaii.

"The EPA requires government agencies to follow laws for protecting
human health and the environment," said Jack Broadbent, the EPA's air
division director for the Pacific Southwest region.  "Children attending 
three schools in Hawaii will soon receive health benefits from the 
absence of asbestos building materials in their school."

On Sept. 28, the EPA filed a complaint against Fort Shafter and
Precision for several alleged violations of the Clean Air Act's
standards for hazardous air pollutants for asbestos during the
demolition of a building in the Fort Shafter Flats near Honolulu.

The alleged violations included failure to keep asbestos-containing
material adequately wet during stripping operations and until it was
collected for disposal.  Also, visible emissions of asbestos-containing 
material were allegedly discharged to the outside air during collection.

Asbestos is a known environmental carcinogen that the EPA has
determined is a hazardous air pollutant.  It presents a significant risk 
to human health as a result of air emissions.  Individuals exposed to 
asbestos fibers can contract asbestos-related diseases.

Safe exposure levels to asbestos have not been established, so it
is advised that exposures be minimized.  The asbestos regulations
include procedures to control the release of asbestos fibers during
demolition and renovation activities.


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