Texas Contractor Sentenced for Asbestos Disposal Violations
In August 2006, a jury convicted Melvin Eugene Riecke II of Palmer, Texas (general manager of National Converting and Fulfillment Co.) on two counts of failing to comply with federal work practice standards regulating demolition of a building containing asbestos and disposing of the resulting waste, one count of making false statements to the Texas Department of Health, Toxic Waste Control Division, and on one count of mail fraud. Riecke will serve a 15-month prison and was ordered $1,609.00 in restitution.
The case stemmed from a 2002 investigation after City of Dallas inspectors found that hazardous asbestos-containing floor tiles and mastic had been illegally dumped in an industrial area. Evidence at trial showed Riecke had contracted with the owner of an old lumber and hardware store to demolish the structure. A pre-demolition survey showed the building contained asbestos-containing material. Riecke failed to have at least one on-site employee trained in asbestos removal during the demolition, and failed to prevent the discharge of visible emissions into the outside air during the stripping, collection, processing, packaging, and transporting of the asbestos. Additionally Rieke did not properly mark vehicles used to transport the asbestos containing waste.
This in on the heels of an OSHA/USEPA worker safety initiative back east that targeted scam asbestos abatement contractors. In those investigations, the contractors were taking money for proper asbestos abatement and were not taking the necessary worker precautions, exposing the workers to the friable asbestos.
More later.
As always, feel free to call me or e-mail me with any questions at walter.james@jamespllc.com.
WDJiii