May 4, 2004

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester today announced that DEQ’s Air Quality Division has entered a Stipulation for Entry of a Final Order by Consent (Consent Order) with Aspen Square Management (Company) to resolve allegations by the DEQ that the Company, has violated the federal Clean Air Act (CAA), and the federal National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).

The Consent Order requires the Company to fully comply with the asbestos NESHAP regulations, including adequately wetting Regulated Asbestos Containing Material during renovation activities, and providing the required notification accurately describing required asbestos removal and waste handling emission control procedures to comply with the asbestos NESHAP requirements. In addition, the Consent Order requires the Company to pay a total settlement amount of $42,000 to the State of Michigan general fund with additional stipulated penalties of $1,500 per violation, per day for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the Consent Order.

The violations occurred during the asbestos demolition/renovation of residences to be resold to the public for private homes located at the old Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda. According to DEQ staff investigations, the Company was remodeling and renovating housing units without performing necessary asbestos surveys, inspections, or work practices requirements.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised May 4, 2004 by Pat Watson