Court Awards Deq $105,000 Penalty In Billings Asbestos Case
 

Helena -- The Montana Thirteenth Judicial District Court in Yellowstone County ruled in favor of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and ordered Mr. Paul Siewert of Siewert Construction, Billings, to pay $105,575 in civil penalties and interest for violations of the Montana Asbestos Control Act.

Siewert Construction demolished five buildings in Billings and impacted over 5,000 square feet of asbestos containing material. Mr. Siewert violated the Asbestos Control Act by failing to notify the DEQ and obtain and asbestos abatement permit, failing to use an accredited contractor, and failing to use appropriate methods to remove the asbestos containing materials.

Contractors and building owners are reminded that, under the Montana Asbestos Control Act, an inspection by an accredited asbestos inspector must be conducted prior to the demolition or remodeling of any commercial or public building. If asbestos will be impacted, an asbestos abatement permit from the DEQ is required and removal of the asbestos containing material must be conducted by an accredited contractor.

Additional information about the Montana Asbestos Control Act can be obtained by contacting the John Podolinski at the DEQ Asbestos Control Program at (406) 444-2690 or by visiting the DEQ web site at www.deq.mt.gov.

If you have ever been exposed to asbestos directly or indirectly, you may need an attorney specializing in the field of Asbestos and Asbestos related litigiation. Contact an Asbestos Lawyer in San Francisco now and obtain a free case review!

	Did You Know?
	Employer must re-test, & examine monitored systems, when the work place fuctions or area is changed The employer must reinitiate monitoring whenever there has been a change in the production, process, control equipment, personnel or work practices that may result in new or additional exposures to asbestos above the PEL and/or EL, or when the employer has reason to suspect that a change may result in new or additional exposures above the PEL and/or EL.