January 17th, 2005

The Environmental Protection Agency has taken action against the city of Wilkes-Barre, and against two local city contractors. The EPA states that federal asbestos removal regulation were violated in 2002, when the former municipal heating plant in Wilkes-Barre was demolished. The EPA is now proposing a penalty of nearly $40,000 against the city as well as against the local contractors involved in the project.

The Wilkes-Barre Department of Safety ordered the demolition of the municipal heating plant in 2002. One company, Wyoming S & P, Inc., was taken on to deal with the asbestos removal for the project. A second contactor, A.R. Popple, Inc., was taken on to actually demolish the plant.

Later inspections by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection indicated that asbestos removal regulations had been violated during the course of the demolition. It was cited that the city, as well as the contractors, had failed to properly dispose of asbestos debris, had failed to have an adequately trained supervisor present during removal and demolition, had failed to give adequate notification of asbestos removal and demolition, and had failed to keep asbestos debris adequately wet during removal and disposal.

Exposure to asbestos fibers can result in a deadly cancer known as mesothelioma, which can affect the heart, lungs, or abdominal area. Loose asbestos fibers in the air pose a health threat because they can easily be swallowed or ingested and cause damage.