When contractors want to demolish or remodel a building with asbestos in it, they must follow a strict procedure to prevent serious illnesses that result from asbestos exposure. They must tell the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about the asbestos, they must hire a registered asbestos abatement professional to remove these harmful materials and they must dispose of asbestos in a very safe manner.
All these regulations are standing in the way of progress according to U.S. Rep. Bill Owens (D-New York). He introduced H.R 204, or The Common Sense Waiver Act, to help eradicate dilapidated buildings faster. He says that certain buildings in the village of Chateaugay are already falling apart, and they pose a serious risk of illness or injury to everyone who walks by.
“Current regulations say if a town or village can’t afford to demolish a building that contains asbestos, their only course of action is to let it fall down,” Owens said. “That means higher costs and greater risk to public safety, which simply doesn’t make sense.”
He explained that his law would allow the EPA to make decisions on a case-by-case basis instead of forcing all projects to follow the same code.
We are interested to hear the EPA’s thought on this; so far, the agency has not responded to the proposed bill. While removing asbestos safely is very important, it might be smarter to fix a dangerous building as soon as possible in some cases. If you know someone suffering from a disease like mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos, we can help bring the negligent parties to justice. Call 1-888-637-6347 and we can schedule a free case assessment.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – asbestos lawyers
[Additional Asbestos Info: Asbestos was used most frequently in the 1930s. If you or a family member worked in an industrial setting during this decade, we suggest asking a doctor to check for dormant asbestos-related illnesses.]
We hope the EPA listens to Representative Owens’ valid concerns. Laws need to be made to ensure that toxic chemicals are being taken care of correctly. EPA regulations need to encourage property owners to demolish hazardous properties rather than make them impossibly difficult to comply with. The proper steps need to be taken so that decaying buildings are properly taken care of to ensure innocent citizens are not harmed.