Salvation Army Store Fined for Asbestos Violations

February 22, 2006 - A Salvation Army Thrift Store in Anchorage, Alaska was fined more than $75,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after customers reported the illegal removal of asbestos from the property.

A press release issued by the EPA states that, after customer complaints, the agency inspected the premises and “found untrained workers removing over 7,500 square feet of asbestos-containing floor tile during business hours.” EPA’s inspector determined the floor tile was in “a deteriorated state and easily crumbled with hand pressure.” The store had already disposed of much of the broken floor tile prior to the inspection, stated an EPA representative. Samples collected by EPA’s inspector showed the floor tile contained asbestos.

Upon learning of the results of the inspection, the Salvation Army closed the store immediately and disposed of any inventory on site.  They hired a licensed abatement contractor, who finished the job and disposed of the asbestos in a proper manner.

“Exposure to asbestos dust can have serious health consequences,” said Marcia Combes, EPA’s Director of Alaska Operations. “In this case, the Salvation Army was very responsive upon learning of the problem. This dangerous situation could have been avoided if the store had followed the Salvation Army’s established asbestos management program.”

The store has agreed to pay a $76,906 penalty to settle with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for alleged violations of the asbestos National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (asbestos NESHAP) under the Clean Air Act.