EPA v. GEPPERT BROS. & LIBERTY SQUARE ASSOC.

Case summary

=> GEPPERT BROS.,INC. IS A PRIVATELY HELD PENNA. CORP. BUSINESS OPERATIONS CONSIST OF DEMOLITION CONTRACTING (50%), EQUIPMENT RENTALS (40%), AND EQUIPMENT HAULING (10%). THE COMPANY EMPLOYS APPROXIMATELY 70 PERSONS. => LIBERTY SQUARE ASSOC. IS A CONN. LTD PARTNERSHIP. IT OWNS & IS RENOVATING THE BECK ENGRAVING BLDG IN PHILA.,PA FOR GENERAL OFFICE USE. LIBERTY SQUARE CONTRACTED WITH GEPPERT THROUGH ITS SUBSIDARY, LIBERTY REHAB CORP, FOR REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS MATERIAL IN THE BECK ENGRV. BLDG. => NEITHER GEPPERT OR LIBERTY SQUARE NOTIFIED EPA OR THE CITY OF PHILA'S DEPT OF HEALTH AIR MGMT SERVICES OF THE PLANNED REMOVAL & DEMOLITION PROJECT INVOLVING ASBESTOS, DESPITE REPEATED WARNINGS FROM EPA & AIR MGMT SERVICES TO DO SO. IN ADDITION, GEPPERT FAILED TO FOLLOW REQUIRED WETTING PROCEDURES DURING THE ACTUAL ASBESTOS REMOVAL. => GEPPERT'S FAILURE TO WET ASBESTOS HAS POTENTIAL DIRECT HEALTH EFFECTS BECAUSE WETTING REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT ASBESTOS FIBRES WILL BECOME AIRBORNE DURING REMOVAL & ESCAPE INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. IF THE FIBERS ESCAPE, THEY MAY BE INHALED BY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS OR PASSERSBY. ASBESTOS IS A KNOWN CARCINOGEN. AT THE PRESENT TIME NO SAFE THRESHOLD EXPOSURE LEVEL EXISTS. => THE BLDG IS LOCATED IN A COMBINED TOURIST & BUSINESS AREA IN PHILA, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE OFFICES OF REG III THE OPEN WINDOWS OF THE BLDG WERE DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO HEAVILY USED SIDEWALKS & STREETS. =>EPA REG III SEEKS A PERMANENT INJUNCTION AGAINST GEPPERT, DIRECTING IT TO COMPLY WITH ASBESTOS REMOVAL & DEMOLITION REGULATIONS IN ANY SUCH FUTURE PROJECTS. =>EPA ALSO SEEKS A $50,000 CIVIL PLTY AGAINST GEPPERT FOR FAILURE TO NOTIFY & FAILURE TO WET ASBESTOS DURING REMOVAL. => EPA SEEKS A $25,000 PLTY AGAINST LIBERTY SQUARE FOR ITS FAILURE TO NOTIFY.

Defendants (2)

• GEPPERT BROS., INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• LIBERTY SQUARE ASSOCIATESNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• BECK ENGRAVING CO THE

  105 S 7TH ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19106

  Registry ID: 110004832405

Statutes cited

• CAA 114 — Record keeping, Inspection, Information Request
• CAA 112 — Hazardous Air Pollutants

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• GEPPERT BROS. & LIBERTY SQUAREentered 1985-08-29

  Primary law: CAA

  Federal penalty: $10,000

Timeline (9 milestones)

• 1984-06-13Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1984-11-21Referred To Headquarters
• 1984-12-13Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1985-03-06Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1985-03-25Complaint Filed With Court
• 1985-08-29Final Order Lodged
• 1985-08-29Final Order Entered
• 1985-08-29Concluded
• 1992-04-15Enforcement Action Closed