After investigating the suspicious actions of Regency of Iowa, Inc., the owner of two mobile home parks, the company has been fined for violating important environmental regulations. Regency failed to notify The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) of their intentions to demolish six mobile homes at the Iowa City site and five in Huxley.
What is even more troubling is that proper asbestos testing had not yet been performed before demolishment began and after DNR ordered a halt to demolishment, it continued on. The dangerous asbestos, which becomes even more virulent after being disturbed, was then dumped in an Iowa City landfill, causing exposure to an increased number of people.
According to asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers, the actions taken against Regency are representative of the issues caused by several developers and landlords who refuse to follow rules intended to protect the public from harmful substances.
The effects that asbestos exposure has are irreversible and deadly. Exposure to the harmful substance, often present in older homes and buildings where it was used as a cheap insulator, causes mesothelioma. There is currently no cure for mesothelioma lung cancer and that is why mesothelioma lawyers exist, to fight for justice for people exposed to a substance they shouldn't have ever come into contact with if not for the negligence of the manufacturers.
The DNR fined Regency $7,500 for the air quality violations they exhibited in 2009. After initial air quality violations that were reported against Regency in August 2009 and subsequent inspection by a DNR specialist, they were ordered to stop demolition until the site was tested for asbestos. But, in later visits by DNR to the site, they discovered that debris had been removed from the site without being tested. Later, in September, DNR officials sampled debris at the Huxley Park site and found that asbestos was, in fact, present. The company was then issued a Notice of Violation letter in October.
Regency had a history of violations before the most recent events and DNR has the power to issue fines of up to $10,000. After numerous violations and fines, Regency has cleaned up the asbestos. But what remains are the health effects to hundreds, if not thousands, of people who were exposed to the deadly asbestos while they were still in violation.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar