Source: http://www.masslive.com, June 28, 2016
By: Stephanie Barry
A demolition company in eastern Massachusetts has been fined $10,000 by state environmental watchdogs for flouting asbestos clean-up standards at the former Uniroyal site.
According to a statement released by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), it fined Costello Dismantling Company, Inc., of West Wareham, after inspectors spotted “excessive” clouds of dust emanating from the demolition site. The state agency issued a permit for the firm to demolish two buildings that contained inaccessible asbestos-containing material. But there were certain controls linked to the permit, which included preventing the the release of visible dust emissions, the statement read.
The agency found the firm had not used enough water to mitigate the dust clouds.
“The demolition work was immediately shut down until additional water hoses and water misters were employed to control future dust emissions,” the statement read, noting that the instances in question occurred in August 2015.
“It is essential that environmental clean-up occur properly to ensure releases do not occur, resulting in threats to the public and further damage to the environment,” said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP’s Western Regional Office in Springfield. “The cleanup of the Uniroyal complex will provide opportunities for future economic development of this property and the surrounding community.”
Demolition of the complex began in 2010. The site spans 26 acres and was once a contender for a regional Catholic high school that ultimately was re-sited in Springfield after the 2011 tornado destroyed Cathedral High School.
Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos said last summer the city was considering sending out a request for proposals to develop the entire, massive site. The city received three federal grants totaling $600,000 to clean the site earlier this month.
Costello Dismantling bills itself as a large firm that provides “meticulous dismantling” contract services and has received previous environmental excellence awards on a national stage, according to its website.