Las Vegas, Nevada, April 11
th, 2022
In March, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a California man pleaded guilty to renovating two apartment complexes in Nevada in violation of federal Clean Air Act regulations intended to prevent human exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. The apartment complex manager entered a guilty plea to two counts of violating the Clean Air Act before a U.S. District Judge in Las Vegas. Sentencing is currently scheduled for June and the individual faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count, and up to three years of supervised release.
According to the DOJ, as part of the guilty plea, the apartment complex manager acknowledged that on behalf of his company, he oversaw renovation activities at both apartment complexes. He further admitted that he was aware of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) at both buildings, and that he hired untrained individuals to tear out those materials without following asbestos work practice standards prescribed by the Clean Air Act. Those work practice standards require that asbestos-containing materials be safely removed prior to general renovation activity taking place. ACM must be kept wet at all times to prevent dust escaping, sealed in leak-proof bags, and disposed of at facilities authorized to accept asbestos waste. At both apartment buildings, untrained laborers removed asbestos-containing drywall and ceiling texture without wetting or containment, releasing asbestos fibers into the surrounding atmosphere.
“Anytime asbestos regulations are not followed, both workers and the public can be at risk,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Exposure to asbestos has been proven to cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. This is why the laboratories of EMSL Analytical have been helping companies, contractors, property managers, real estate developers, and environmental professionals test for asbestos for over 40 years. Our testing facilities, located across the United States and Canada, help to protect workers and building occupants from exposure risks. These services are also instrumental for keeping companies in compliance with asbestos regulations.”
To learn more asbestos or other environmental and industrial hygiene testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com. For access to asbestos and other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products, and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP, and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.