July 6th, 2007

A Springfield woman has been fined twelve thousand dollars by the Department of Environmental Protection after she was found guilty of asbestos violations. According to reports the violations took place at a rental property in Pittsfield. Asbestos exposure can cause a range of health problems through exposure, including scarring of the lungs, respiratory problems, and asbestos related cancer.

According to the reports the woman, Susan Eiffert, hired contractors to remove asbestos as the property without proper practices or safety equipment. Reports also confirmed that she was aware that the material being removed was asbestos, as she had been informed of this prior to the work being carried out.

According to Eiffert she quickly dealt with the problem as soon as she was notified by health authorities. She claims that it cost her five thousand dollars to correct the removal process but that she did this right away after she was told about the problems.

She stated: "The DEP and I worked together cordially and cooperatively over the three years it took for us to reach a resolution. I do disagree with the amount, which represents a financial hardship as I struggle with high property taxes, endless repair costs and nonpaying renters."