NEW: Grafton Landlord Gets Indicted over Asbestos Issues
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Susan Nissenbaum, 59, of North Grafton never warned the tenants of how dangerous it was to handle asbestos and did not provide proper equipment or training for removal, according to Attorney General Martha Coakley.
Nissenbaum was indicted on three counts of violating the Massachusetts Clean Air Act as well as improper removal and storage of asbestos. Nissenbaum failed to file a notice of asbestos removal with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), according to the indictment.
“We allege that this defendant put her tenants at risk by having them unsafely remove asbestos from the property and failing to warn them of the dangers involved,” Coakley said in a press release. “Our office remains committed to upholding environmental laws to prevent people from taking shortcuts that may endanger the health and safety of others.”
DEP Commissioner Kenneth Kimmel said anyone who doesn’t comply with environmental regulations will “most assuredly be looking at elevated enforcement.” That, he said, could include loss of license, financial penalty and criminal charges.
The incident took place in April 2010, when Nissenbaum allegedly, paid two of her tenants to remove asbestos siding from the single-family rental property in Springfield that they were living in and store it on the property. Nissembaum knew the siding contained asbestos, according to authorities, and did nothing to warn the tenants. She also did not make sure the tenants followed the proper procedures to prevent asbestos fibers from escaping into the air.
Investigators also learned Nissenbaum had the asbestos containing materials stored improperly at the property in torn bags. That led to the tenants, their children and others being exposed to asbestos, according to authorities. Nissenbaum also allegedly failed to notify MassDEP before starting the project.
The indictments were handed down last week. Nissenbaum is scheduled to be arraigned in Hampden Superior Court at a later date.
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