South Carolina Contractor Convicted for Clean Air Act Violations Arising from Improper Asbestos Removal

Last week, the United States Attorney for South Carolina announced that a contractor who ran CoolCote, a Myrtle Beach-based construction and renovation company, was sentenced to six months in prison, six months house arrest, three years supervised release and a $10,000 fine for Clean Air Act violations.  The criminal conviction arises from the contractor’s involvement in the removal and replacement of siding on a high rise beachfront condominium complex.  Although the contractor was aware that the existing siding contained asbestos material, he did not provide proper protection to his employees or obtain the requisite permits for asbestos removal.  According to EPA, “[i]nstead of removing the asbestos containing material legally and safely, [the contractor] directed workers to pressure wash the material in violation of the work practice standards and as a result, contaminated a local beach and adjacent properties.”  Read the EPA’s press release on the conviction here.