DEQ fines Alpine Abatement $33,600 for asbestos violations at SE Portland home
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality fined Alpine Abatement $33,600 for asbestos violations during renovation of a home at 7604 SE Knight St., in Portland.
Alpine Abatement failed to properly enclose an asbestos abatement project work area and did not adequately wet asbestos-containing material during removal. DEQ also cited the company, without penalty, for not having a certified supervisor present during the project.
DEQ issued this penalty because the violations could have released asbestos fibers into the air and exposed workers and the public to asbestos. Asbestos fibers are a respiratory hazard proven to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Asbestos is a danger to public health and a hazardous air contaminant for which there is no known safe level of exposure.
To protect the public from asbestos exposure, DEQ requires training and licensing for those who handle asbestos-containing material. Failure to use the required protective asbestos abatement work practices presents a significant risk to public health and the environment.
Alpine Abatement has until Nov. 16 to appeal the penalty.
Contact:
Kieran O’Donnell, Environmental Law Specialist, Portland, 503-229-5012 Killian Condon, Solid Waste Specialist, Portland, 503-229-5562
