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."

If you have ever been exposed to asbestos directly or indirectly, you may need an attorney specializing in the field of Asbestos and Asbestos related litigiation. Contact an Asbestos Lawyer in Texas now and obtain a free case review!

	Did You Know?
	Employer must institute a medical surveillance program with concentrations of asbestos at or above the PEL and/or EL. Such Asbestos medical exams must occur at a reasonable time and place and shall be provided at no cost to the employee. At a minimum, such examinations must include a medical and work history; a complete physical examination with emphasis on the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, and the digestive tract; a chest X-ray; pulmonary function tests; respiratory disease standardized questionnaire as set forth in 29 CFR 1910.100l Appendix D, Part 1 of the standard.