baltimore mesothelioma attorneys :In Wake of Asbestos Violations, EPA Orders Factory Cleanup

Old Forge, PA - (Mesothelioma News) After discovering that a Pennsylvania factory owner violated asbestos regulations by performing demolition work without taking the required precautions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered a by-the-book cleanup.

The EPA found that the structure-the abandoned Hillcrest Building outside Scranton-contains asbestos, which has been scientifically linked to diseases including mesothelioma, an aggressive, usually fatal cancer that strikes the protective lining covering many of the body's organs.

While asbestos violations can have legal and financial ramifications for the offenders, they can lead to catastrophic illnesses in anyone exposed to asbestos, according to mesothelioma lawyers who have handled lawsuits arising from similar scenarios.

During two inspections in 2010, the EPA determined that the building's owner, Walter Stocki of Old Forge, Penn., had not taken the required steps to minimize the airborne release of asbestos while demolishing portions of the building.

A follow-up inspection in November revealed that the abandoned factory was still contaminated with the cancer-causing material. Specifically, the EPA alleges, Stocki violated key provisions of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.

Asbestos-long used in insulation and other building components because of its heat- and fire-resistant qualities-is still found in many older factories, homes, and even schools. Asbestos is at its most dangerous when airborne; at that point, asbestos fibers can easily be inhaled and then lodge in the lungs.

Once in the lungs, asbestos can trigger diseases like lung cancer and mesothelioma years-even decades-later. While mesothelioma lawyers have been extremely successful obtaining financial compensation and accountability for those who have suffered due to needless asbestos exposure, researchers still struggle to understand the mechanics of the disease and how it can be stopped.

In its order, the EPA instructed Stocki to cease all activities that might cause the further release of asbestos fibers. He was ordered to ensure that the building and exterior Dumpster are sealed, and to post warning signs around the structure until a cleanup is completed.

While heartened to see the EPA's response in the case, mesothelioma lawyers worry that the ease with which many building owners, employers, and contractors evade asbestos regulations will lead to an increasing number of mesothelioma diagnoses, deaths and lawsuits in the years ahead. Testing for asbestos and taking the proper precautions costs money-but in the end, the cost of not taking them is far greater.

This news story was brought to you by the mesothelioma lawyers at Cooney & Conway. For more than half a century, we've brought relief-and recovery-to those injured by the negligence or harmful actions of others. In the process, we've litigated some of the country's most significant asbestos lawsuits, helping victims of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases get answers-and justice.