We know that compliance with state, local, and federal asbestos laws and regulations can be a daunting task. Hawk Environmental Services is fully qualified to conduct your asbestos surveys in compliance with AHERA guidelines to ensure that you are following all of the applicable rules. When these rules get broken heavy fines are often imposed.
Who can be fined?
Fines for failing to observe asbestos regulations can be levied on contractors, building owners, home owners, and demolition crews. These can be the result of a lack of knowledge on the part of the people involved in the project, or a simple failure to notify and test for asbestos containing materials.
How much do asbestos fines typically cost?
Fines for failure to follow asbestos rules can start at $750.00 and can easily exceed the $10,000 mark. These costs are generally greater than the fees associated with proper testing and removal, and can be avoided by hiring a properly certified AHERA building inspector.
Is ignorance of the law a valid defense?
No, ignorance of the need for asbestos testing and proper removal procedures is not a valid excuse. The regulatory agencies can assess civil penalties whenever a violation of the asbestos testing and inspection requirements occurs.
Recent fines levied by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency for asbestos violations in Washington State
Fine amount: $1,350.00
Date: September 12th, 2013
Case Number: 201308072
City: Bellevue, WA
County: King
Reason for fines:
You are hereby notified that, pursuant to Chapter 70.94 RCW and Notice of Violation No. 4-042767, a copy of which has been previously provided to you or your agent, you have violated Article 4 of Regulation III of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (Agency) as described below:
On or about the 12th day of September 2013, at XXX 153rd Place Southeast in the city of Bellevue, King County, state of Washington, you caused or allowed the following violations of Article 4 of Regulation III:
- failure to obtain an asbestos survey by an AHERA building inspector before performing a renovation or demolition, in violation of Section 4.02 of Regulation III;
- failure to submit a complete notification to the Agency before working on an asbestos project or demolition, in violation of Section 4.03(a) of Regulation III;
- failure to remove all asbestos-containing material (ACM) before performing a renovation or demolition project that may disturb the ACM, in violation of Section 4.04(a) of Regulation III;
- failure to conduct an asbestos project in a controlled area clearly marked by barriers and asbestos warning signs, in violation of Section 4.05(b)(1) of Regulation III;
- failure to seal asbestos-containing waste material (ACWM) in leak-tight containers as soon as possible after removal but no later than the end of each work shift, in violation of Section 4.05(b)(7) of Regulation III; and
- failure to keep absorbent/nonabsorbent ACWM saturated/coated with a liquid wetting agent until sealed in leak-tight containers while saturated/coated with a liquid wetting agent, in violation of Section 4.05(b)(8) of Regulation III.
Fine amount: $5,000.00
Date: April 17th, 2013
Case Number: 201308020
City: Seattle, WA
Reason for fines:
You are hereby notified that, pursuant to Chapter 70.94 RCW and Notice of Violation No. 4- 042833, a copy of which has been previously provided to you or your agent, you have violated Article 4 of Regulation III of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (Agency) as described below:
On or about the 17th day of April 2013, at XXXX 30th Avenue in the city of Seattle, King County, state of Washington, you caused or allowed failure to submit a complete notification to the Agency before working on an asbestos project or demolition, in violation of Section 4.03(a) of Regulation
Fine amount: $5,250.00
Date: June 7th, 2013
Case Number: 201308035
City: Seattle, WA
County: King
Reason for fines:
You are hereby notified that, pursuant to Chapter 70.94 RCW and Notice of Violation No. 4-042834, a copy of which has been previously provided to you or your agent, you have violated Article 4 of Regulation III of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (Agency) as described below:
On or about the 7th day of June 2013, at XXXX 1st Avenue Northeast in the city of Seattle, King County, state of Washington, you caused or allowed the following violations of Article 4 of Regulation III:
- failure to obtain an asbestos survey by an AHERA building inspector before performing a renovation or demolition, in violation of Section 4.02 of Regulation III;
- failure to submit a complete notification to the Agency before working on an asbestos project or demolition, in violation of Section 4.03(a) of Regulation III;
- failure to remove all asbestos-containing material (ACM) before performing a renovation or demolition project that may disturb the ACM, in violation of Section 4.04(a) of Regulation III;
- failure to have certified asbestos workers conduct work on an asbestos removal project, in violation of Section 4.05(a) of Regulation III;
- failure to conduct an asbestos project in a controlled area clearly marked by barriers and asbestos warning signs, in violation of Section 4.05(b)(1) of Regulation III; and
- failure to keep absorbent/nonabsorbent asbestos-containing waste material (ACWM) saturated/coated with a liquid wetting agent until sealed in leak-tight containers while saturated/coated with a liquid wetting agent, in violation of Section 4.05(b)(8) of Regulation III
Fine amount: $13,806.00
Date: July 3rd, 2013
Case Number: 201308041
City: Bellevue, WA
County: King
Reason for fines:
You are hereby notified that, pursuant to Chapter 70.94 RCW and Notice of Violation No. 4-043502, a copy of which has been previously provided to you or your agent, you have violated Article 4 of Regulation III of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (Agency) as described below:
On or about the 3rd day of July 2013, at XXXXX Northeast 16th Place in the city of Bellevue, King County, state of Washington, you caused or allowed the following violations of Article 4 of Regulation III:
- failure to obtain an asbestos survey by an AHERA building inspector before performing a renovation or demolition, in violation of Section 4.02 ‘of Regulation III;
- failure to submit a complete notification to the Agency before working on an asbestos project or demolition, in violation of Section 4.03(a) of Regulation III;
- failure to remove all asbestos-containing material (ACM) before performing a renovation or demolition project that may disturb the ACM, in violation of Section 4.04(a) of Regulation III;
- failure to have certified asbestos workers conduct work on an asbestos project, in violation of Section 4.05(a) of Regulation III;
- failure to conduct an asbestos project in a controlled area clearly marked by barriers and asbestos warning signs, in violation of Section 4.05(b)(1) of Regulation III;
- failure to deposit asbestos-containing waste material (ACWM) at an authorized waste disposal site within ten (10) days of removal, in violation of Section 4.07(a) of Regulation III; and
- failure to track the disposal of asbestos-containing waste materials and maintain waste shipment records, in violation of Section 4.07(b) of Regulation III.
Fine amount: $10,250.00
Date: August 8th, 2013
Case Number: 201308061
City: Mountlake Terrace, WA
County: Snohomish
Reason for fines:
You are hereby notified that, pursuant to Chapter 70.94 RCW and Notice of Violation No. 4-044052, a copy of which has been previously provided to you or your agent, you have violated Article 4 of Regulation III of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (Agency) as described below:
On or about the 8th day of August 2013, at XXXX 241st Street Southwest in the city of Mountlake Terrace, Snohomish County, state of Washington, you caused or allowed the following violations of Article 4 of Regulation III:
- failure to have certified asbestos workers conduct work on an asbestos removal project, in violation of Section 4.05(a) of Regulation III; and
- failure to keep absorbent/nonabsorbent asbestos-containing waste material (ACWM) saturated/coated with a liquid wetting agent until sealed in leak-tight containers while saturated/coated with a liquid wetting agent, in violation of Section 4.05(b)(8) of Regulation III.
Fine amount: $750.00
Date: June 18th, 2013
Case Number: 201308065
City: Bothell, WA
County: King
Reason for fines:
You are hereby notified that, pursuant to Chapter 70.94 RCW and Notice of Violation No. 4- 044054, a copy of which has been previously provided to you or your agent, you have violated Article 4 of Regulation III of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (Agency) as described below:
On or about the 18th day of June to the 15th day of August 2013, at XXXXX 92nd Avenue Northeast in the city of Bothell, King County, state of Washington, you caused or
allowed failure to obtain an asbestos survey by an AHERA building inspector before performing a renovation or demolition, in violation of Section 4.02 of Regulation III.
Fine amount: $5,000.00
Date: October 9th, 2013
Case Number: 201308083
City: Seattle, WA
County: King
Reason for fines:
You are hereby notified that, pursuant to Chapter 70.94 RCW and Notice of Violation No. 4-042837, a copy of which has been previously provided to you or your agent, you have violated Article 4 of Regulation III of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (Agency) as described below:
On or about the 9th day of October 2013, at XXXX and XXXX Fauntleroy Way Southwest in the city of Seattle, King County, state of Washington, you caused or allowed the following violations of Article 4 of Regulation III:
- failure to obtain an asbestos survey by an AHERA building inspector before performing a renovation or demolition, in violation of Section 4.02 of Regulation 111;
- failure to submit a complete notification to the Agency before working on an asbestos project or demolition, in violation of Section 4.03(a) of Regulation III;
- failure to remove all asbestos-containing material (ACM) before performing a renovation or demolition project that may disturb the ACM, in violation of Section 4.04(a) of Regulation III;
- failure to conduct an asbestos project in a controlled area clearly marked by barriers and asbestos warning signs, in violation of Section 4.05(b)(1) of Regulation III;
- failure to keep absorbent/nonabsorbent asbestos-containing waste material (ACWM) saturated/coated with a liquid wetting agent until sealed in leak-tight containers while saturated/coated with a liquid wetting agent, in violation of Section 4.05(b)(8) of Regulation III; and
- failure to deposit ACWM at an authorized waste disposal site within ten (10) days of removal, in violation of Section 4.07(a) of Regulation III.
Fine amount: $10,750.00
Date: December 18th, 2013
Case Number: 201308098
City: Lakewood, WA
County: Pierce
Reason for fines:
You are hereby notified that, pursuant to Chapter 70.94 RCW and Notice of Violation No. 4-043162, a copy of which has been previously provided to you or your agent, you have violated Article 4 of Regulation III of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (Agency) as described below:
On or about the 18th day of December 2013, at XXXX 100th Street Southwest, Unit Nos. 1 and 3 in the city of Lakewood, Pierce County, state of Washington, you caused or allowed the following violations of Article 4 of Regulation III:
- failure to obtain an asbestos survey by an AHERA building inspector before performing a renovation or demolition, in violation of Section 4.02 of Regulation III;
- failure to submit a complete notification to the Agency before working on an asbestos project or demolition, in violation of Section 4.03(a) of Regulation III;
- failure to remove all asbestos-containing material (ACM) before performing a renovation or demolition project that may disturb the ACM, in violation of Section 4.04(a) of Regulation III;
- failure to conduct an asbestos project in a controlled area clearly marked by barriers and asbestos warning signs, in violation of Section 4.05(b)(1) of Regulation III;
- failure to seal asbestos-containing waste material (ACWM) in leak-tight containers as soon as possible after removal but no later than the end of each work shift, in violation of Section 4.05(b)(7) of Regulation III; and
failure to keep absorbent/nonabsorbent ACWM saturated/coated with a liquid wetting agent until sealed in leak-tight containers while saturated/coated with a liquid wetting agent, in violation of Section 4.05(b)(8) of Regulation III.
Fine amount: $750.00
Date: February 21st, 2014
Case Number: 201408015
City: Mercer Island, WA
County: King
Reason for fines:
You are hereby notified that, pursuant to Chapter 70.94 RCW and Notice of Violation No. 4- 042910, a copy of which has been previously provided to you or your agent, you have violated Article 4 of Regulation III of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (Agency) as described below:
On or about the 21st day of February 2014, at XXXX 78th Avenue Southeast in the city of Mercer Island, King County, state of Washington, you caused or allowed failure to obtain an asbestos survey by an AHERA building inspector before performing a renovation or demolition, in violation of Section 4.02 of Regulation III.
Fine amount: $750.00
Date: February 2oth, 2014
Case Number: 201408015
City: Mercer Island, WA
County: King
Reason for fines:
You are hereby notified that, pursuant to Chapter 70.94 RCW and Notice of Violation No. 4- 042911, a copy of which has been previously provided to you or your agent, you have violated Article 4 of Regulation III of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (Agency) as described below:
On or about the 20th day of February 2014, at XXXX 78th Avenue Southeast in the city of Mercer Island, King County, state of Washington, you caused or allowed failure to obtain an asbestos survey by an AHERA building inspector before performing a renovation or demolition, in violation of Section 4.02 of Regulation III
How can you protect yourself?
Make sure that before beginning any repair, remodeling, or demolition work, you hire a certified AHERA building inspector to locate, test, and document any building materials that may contain asbestos. Check out these links for more information:
Relevant links
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