El Paso Natural Gas Company Violates Asbestos Removal Law 

PHOENIX (June 28, 2006) -- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Director Steve Owens announced today that El Paso Natural Gas Company (EPNG) will pay $340,000 in penalties for air quality violations in Mohave County and hazardous waste violations in Pima County.

Under a Consent Judgment with ADEQ, EPNG will pay $225,000 for asbestos violations that occurred during a pipeline renovation and removal project near Topock in Mohave County in 2004. The violations included failure to notify ADEQ prior to generating regulated asbestos-containing materials, failure to properly inspect the pipeline prior to renovation or removal activities and failure to prevent emissions.

In addition to the penalty, ADEQ previously required EPNG to clean up asbestos-containing material and surface soils at EPNG's Mohave County facility. The company has also agreed to obtain and maintain a certification in the Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act for the employees responsible for pipeline renovation or removal.

"Because exposure to asbestos can lead to significant long-term health effects, activities involving asbestos must be conducted carefully and in accordance with the law," Owens said. "The penalty reflects the serious nature of the violations that occurred during this renovation project."

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	Did You Know?
	There are detailed Asbestos exposure monitoring standards Except for brake and clutch repair where a "preferred" control method is used, each employer who has a workplace or work operation covered by this standard must assess all asbestos operations for their potential to generate airborne fibers. Where exposure may exceed the PEL, employee exposure measurements must be made from breathing zone air samples representing the 8-hour TWA and 30-minute EL for each employee.