UPDATE: BRP4 LLC and Level Line Building Co. on Oct. 20 appealed the enforcement order issued by the Allegheny County Health Department. You can read the appeal here.
The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) on Sept. 25 assessed a more than $31,000 civil penalty against two companies it says violated local Air Pollution Control Act regulations relating to asbestos abatement at a commercial structure in Wilkins Township.
According to an associated enforcement order, BRP4 LLC of Wexford (the company that owns the property) and Pittsburgh-based Level Line Building Co. (the company responsible for the demolition of the property) demolished the structure without first submitting required asbestos abatement documentation for the 2019 project.
ACHD said the companies failed to test the roof for asbestos. In areas where no samples were taken, ACHD deems it to be what it refers to as asbestos-containing material (ACM).
“When removing the roof for demolition, Level Line did not follow standard work procedures while removing (asbestos-containing material) due to asbestos waste not being properly bagged and transported to an approved landfill,” ACHD indicated in the order.
Of the $31,500 civil penalty assessed, $9,000 was for reckless conduct.
“The gravity-based component of the civil penalty reflects the severity of the violation and the potential harm to the public or environment from the violation,” according to the order.
BRP4 and Level Line have 30 days to either pay the fine or appeal the enforcement order.
The enforcement order is one of many issued recently from the health department, which has reported an uptick in asbestos-related infractions.
For those who might be unfamiliar: asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring, fibrous minerals that can cause severe breathing issues and even cancer. During building renovations projects, old, brittle asbestos products can release tiny – even microscopic – fibers. These colorless, odorless fibers can remain suspended in the air, entering the lungs when you inhale.
You can read the entire enforcement order here.