The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) says Nottingham Construction failed to notify the agency that it was demolishing a property in Mahtomedi that contained asbestos. MPCA investigators also say that Nottingham Construction failed to send the asbestos demolition debris to a permitted facility. Asbestos is dangerous to humans because it can cause serious health issues, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis, primarily due to the inhalation of its microscopic fibers.
Violations included:
- failure to notify the MPCA 10 days ahead of demolition of a property with asbestos
- failure to have a trained individual to monitor asbestos removal on site
- failure to send asbestos demolition debris to a permitted facility
The violations led to Nottingham Construction paying a fine of $17,938.
MPCA rules and regulations are designed to protect human health and the environment by limiting pollution emissions and discharges from facilities. When companies do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA considers how seriously the violations affected or could have affected the environment, and whether they were first-time or repeat violations. The agency also attempts to recover the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.