Oregon resident fined following improper removal of mesothelioma asbestos at mobile home park

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has levied a total of $3,800 in fines against a state resident who violated asbestos handling laws during a demolition project at a single-wide mobile home in Jefferson.

The mobile home contained asbestos that was improperly handled, and Department of Environmental Quality officials argue that the project likely released asbestos fibers into the air. Airborne asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems if they are unknowingly inhaled or ingested.

Asbestos exposure has been conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and the disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms. Sadly, the cancer often kills patients within 24 months of being diagnosed.

The demolition project at the heart of the matter occurred in 2009 at 759 North Sunrise Drive in Jefferson. The property is owned by Delta Management Co., who hired Jefferson resident Robert Floyd Davis to demolish the mobile home. However, Davis did not have an asbestos abatement license, making it illegal for him to deal with asbestos waste. All told, Davis removed a total of 20 square feet of roofing material coated in asbestos-laden silver paint.

According to the US EPA, “Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistant properties, asbestos has been used for a wide range of manufactured goods.” The EPA has implemented several asbestos usage laws pertaining to the manufacturing, use, removal and disposal of asbestos products.