Ohio EPA Fines Two Local Companies
By Steve Bennish Staff Writer
COLUMBUS — Two area companies will pay big fines to settle violations of environmental standards, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency announced.
Wilmington-based RLR Investments, LLC, has paid a $227,700 penalty for violating Ohio’s asbestos emission control standards at the Urban Resort property, formerly a Days Inn, at 330 W. First St. in downtown Dayton, the OEPA said.
The case was settled by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. It is the largest civil penalty ever collected by the state for asbestos violations.
OEPA said the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency, which is Ohio EPA’s contractual representative in Montgomery County, discovered and documented the violations. During 2003, RLR Investments, LLC was responsible for renovating the Days Inn Hotel and failed to provide proper notification for the asbestos abatement, among other violations. On three occasions, RAPCA inspectors were denied access to the work site by the company, and on one of these occasions a search warrant had to be obtained for inspectors to gain access.
The violations included failures to notify OEPA of the abatement project, inspect the premises for asbestos thoroughly, remove asbestos before breaking up, dislodging or disturbing the materials; wet asbestos materials during removal adequately; and encapsulating or removing all friable asbestos before removing emission controls, the OEPA said.
"The asbestos regulations are intended to protect public health, which is why we take violations very seriously," said OEPA Director Chris Korleski. "We urge anyone involved in building demolition or renovation to understand the asbestos requirements and follow them to the letter."
Of the $227,700 fine, $45,540 will go to OEPA’s Clean Diesel School Bus program. The remaining $182,160 will be used to administer air pollution control programs.
In Butler County, a West Chester manufacturer will pay an $87,000 penalty as a settlement for violating air pollution regulations.
Three Bond U.S.A., of 6184 Schumacher Park Drive, was cited for exceeding the amount of air pollution allowed by its permit during 2005.
The violations were documented by Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services when staff reviewed the company’s annual report for air pollution releases in 2005. OEPA contracts with the county to administer its air pollution control program in the greater Cincinnati area.
The company coats metal and plastic parts, OEPA said.
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