EPA v. NYC BOARD OF EDUCATION

Case summary

RENOVATIONS INVOLVING AT LEAST 260 LINEAR FEET OR 160 SQUARE FEET OF ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIAL OCCURRED AT 50 DIFFERENT SITES OWNED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE SUBJECT CONTRACTORS EACH PERFORMED ONE OR MORE OF THESE ASBESTOS REMOVAL JOBS. EPA REGION II WAS NOT NOTIFIED AS REQUIRED BY C.F.R. 61.146 PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORK. BOTH THE OWNER AND OPERATOR HAVE A STATUATORY DUTY TO DO SO. AN INJUNCTION MANDATING THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS OR AGENCIES OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND THE SUBJECT CONTRACTORS PERFORM ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ASBESTOS NESHAP AND APPROPRIATE CIVIL PENALTIES. THIS CASE, BROUGHT AGAINST MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS, ALSO INVOLVES VIOLATIONS ARISING FROM WORK PERFORMED AT MULTIPLE FACILITIES. BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PARTIES AND NUMBER OF FACILITIES, THIS CASE WILL REQUIRE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RESOURCES THAN A USUAL ASBESTOS CASE IN THIS REGION.

Defendants (10)

• MERKUR CONTRACTINGNamed in complaint
• NYC BOARD OF EDUCATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• PAG INSULATIONNamed in complaint
• A. GRGAS CONTRACTING CO INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• CARUCCI PLUMBING AND CONTRACTING CONamed in complaint
• HOLLYWOOD COMMERCIAL RENEWALS INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• JACK'S INSULATION CONTRACTING CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• OWNER'S REALTY MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTNNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• PHILSON PAINTING COMPANY INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• SUPERIOR INSULATIONNamed in complaint

Facilities (50)

• NYC BD OF ED - PUBLIC SCHOOL 134 QUEENS

  109TH AVE & 203RD ST, HOLLIS, NY, 11423

  Registry ID: 110008008146

• NYC BD OF ED - PUBLIC SCHOOL 29 K

  425 HENRY ST, BROOKLYN, NY, 11201

  Registry ID: 110004439000

• P S 327 BOISE SYLVANUS DENT SC

  111 BRISTOL ST, BROOKLYN, NY, 11212

  Registry ID: 110010610268

• NYC BD OF ED - PUBLIC SCHOOL 200

  70-10 164TH ST, FLUSHING, NY, 113654219

  Registry ID: 110019814995

• NYC BD OF ED - FLUSHING HIGH SCHOOL

  35-01 UNION ST, FLUSHING, NY, 113543405

  Registry ID: 110004377852

• P S 133

  248-05 86TH AVE, BELLEROSE, NY, 11426

  Registry ID: 110010610240

• NYC BD OF ED - PUBLIC SCHOOL 193 K

  2515 AVE L, BROOKLYN, NY, 112104546

  Registry ID: 110004516532

• P S 117 F S KEY J H S

  300 WILLOUGHBY AVE, BROOKLYN, NY, 11205

  Registry ID: 110010610231

• P.S. 25 - K

  787 LAFAYETT AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY, 11211

  Registry ID: 110010786284

• NYC BD OF ED - JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 141Q

  37-11 21ST AVE, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY, 11105

  Registry ID: 110004381703

• J.H.S. 190 - Q

  68-17 AUSTIN STREET, FOREST HILLS, NY, 11375

  Registry ID: 110026489501

• PS 155 N HERKIMER ELEM SCHOOL

  1355 HERKIMER ST, BROOKLYN, NY, 11233

  Registry ID: 110004566531

• NYC BD OF ED - PUBLIC SCHOOL 1 BRONX

  335 E 152ND ST, BRONX, NY, 10451

  Registry ID: 110004377861

• SCHOOL OF CO OPERATIVE TECH ED

  321 E 39TH ST, MANHATTAN, NY, 10016

  Registry ID: 110010610375

• P S 79

  125 E 181ST ST, BRONX, NY, 10453

  Registry ID: 110036034868

• …and 35 more

Statutes cited

• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants

Enforcement conclusions (5)

• OWNER'S REALTY MGNTentered 1996-09-06

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $412,500

• JACK'S INSULATION CONTRACTINGentered 1993-01-15

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $90,000

• PHILSON PAINTING COMPANY, INC.entered 1993-11-13

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $54,500

• NYC BOARD OF EDUCATIONentered 1993-11-13

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $30,500

• HOLLYWOOD COMMERCIALentered 1994-08-15

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $5,000

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 1988-09-23Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1989-03-14Complaint Filed With Court
• 1996-09-06Final Order Lodged
• 1996-09-06Final Order Entered
• 1996-09-06Concluded
• 1999-03-30Enforcement Action Closed