Last month, the Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement under which two businesses, and their owner, will pay $1.25 million for government cleanup work at two Superfund sites in North Carolina. The settlement comes after a successful trial, completed in U.S. District Court in Charlotte earlier this year, in which a jury returned a verdict finding the business owner personally liable for the government's costs at one of the Superfund sites under the legal doctrine of piercing the corporate veil. 

According to the Justice Department, cleanup efforts removed almost 4,000 tons of asbestos-contaminated debris from one of the Superfund sites and oversaw the removal of asbestos-contaminated debris and drums of oil containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the other Superfund site. 

“When regulations meant to protect people and the environment from needless exposure risks to hazardous materials are not followed, there can be costly legal ramifications for businesses and individuals,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “In this case, the government complaint alleged the owner of the businesses, as the companies' manager, operated the sites and made the decision to demolish aged and dilapidated buildings without ensuring that asbestos was surveyed and safely removed before demolition began. These demolition activities caused the release and threat of release of asbestos and PCBs into the air and ground, and potentially offsite into nearby residential neighborhoods.” 

With laboratories across the United States and Canada, EMSL Analytical offers testing services and sampling supplies to detect asbestos, PCBs, lead and other regulated materials from environmental, industrial hygiene and bulk material samples. These services help to protect workers, the public, and the environment from exposure risks. They can also be instrumental in assisting businesses with regulatory compliance issues to avoid costly litigation, settlements or penalties. 

To learn more asbestos, PCBs or other testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com . For access to asbestos and additional indoor environmental quality (IEQ) test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com. 

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC's, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products, and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP, and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

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