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Ky. Company, Employee Sentenced for Air Violations

Aug. 11, 2000

Illegal asbestos removal leads to conviction.

Evans Development Corp. of Louisville, Ky., and Stephen Gassman, a work site foreman for Evans, were sentenced in U.S. District Court in Louisville for violating the Clean Air Act.

Evans was ordered to pay a $100,00 fine and pay $20,000 in restitution to the Jefferson County Air Pollution Control District Fund. Gassman was ordered to serve six months in home confinement and spend two years on probation.

The defendants were convicted of causing the illegal removal of asbestos. Specifically, they employed indigent individuals, some of whom were homeless, to remove asbestos without providing them with proper protective equipment. In addition, the people employed to remove the asbestos were not trained or certified in asbestos removal as required by law.

Removal of asbestos without training and without protective equipment can lead to inhalation of asbestos fibers, which is a known cause of lung cancer, a lung disease called "asbestosis" and mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the chest and abdominal cavities.

The case was investigated by EPA''s Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

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EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.