MassDEP Fines West Springfield Landlord $15,000 for Asbestos Violations

Mass.gov, Aug 24, 2007

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has penalized Iqbal Murtaza $15,000 for asbestos removal violations at a rental property he owns on Main Street in West Springfield.

On November 30, 2004, MassDEP received a complaint from a state's Occupational Safety inspector alleging that workers were improperly removing asbestos in the basement of the building. MassDEP inspectors confirmed that unlicensed and untrained laborers had improperly removed and stored the asbestos from an old boiler at the site.

Under MassDEP's direction, Mr. Murtaza subsequently retained a licensed asbestos contractor to decontaminate the basement and dispose of the asbestos waste properly. Mr. Murtaza will pay $1,500 of the penalty, with the remaining $13,500 suspended during a one-year probationary period.

"The proper removal of the asbestos by a licensed asbestos contractor would have been far less costly to Mr. Murtaza than what he ultimately paid in penalties and clean-up costs," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP's Western Regional Office in Springfield.

Property owners or contractors with questions about asbestos containing materials, notification requirements, proper removal, handling, packaging, storage and disposal procedures, or the asbestos regulations are encouraged to contact the appropriate MassDEP regional office for assistance.