Van Hollen
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced on Wednesday that a construction company will pay $14,827.50 for civil asbestos violations after razing and burning a barn.
Voltz Trenching and Excavating Inc. agreed to raze, burn and bury a barn in the town of Linn, Walworth County, Wisconsin in late spring 2009. The town of Linn had previously ordered Mir Co., the owner of the barn, to demolish it, but the local fire department declined to burn the barn because of asbestos within it.
Following a citizen complaint about Voltz's razing and burning of the barn, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources responded to the property, finding the demolished barn in flames. Voltz employees had allegedly started the fire without securing any local or state permits. Asbestos-containing transite and other solid waste that should not have been burned was found in the fire debris.
The site was subsequently cleaned up to the DNR's satisfaction.
In addition to Voltz's $14,827.50 in forfeitures and costs, Mir Co., based in Illinois, had previously agreed to pay forfeitures and costs totaling $17,000 for the violations.