Van Hollen
MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced a $10,000 judgment against a LaCrosse-area construction firm for allegedly violating Wisconsin's hazardous waste testing, generation and disposal laws.
Krause Konstruction Company, a firm specializing in church exteriors, must also obtain training and maintain the certifications necessary to properly and safely handle lead paint and asbestos under the terms of the judgment.
Under Wisconsin law, solid waste generators must determine if the waste they are generating is hazardous or not, document the quality of the hazardous waste being generated and properly contain and dispose of the waste.
The Department of Natural Resources alleged that Krause violated Wisconsin law when it power-washed the steeple of a LaCrosse church and caused paint chips to scatter on the street, sidewalk and lawn.
Lead is considered a hazardous waste when it is at concentrations of more than five milligrams per liter. The DNR found that the paint chips had lead levels of more than 38,000 milligrams per kilograms. Krause cooperated with the DNR in cleaning up the paint chips and also replaced the sod at the church. The company disposed of the contaminated sod at a landfill.
"Studies have shown that lead exposure in young children can cause reduced IQ and attention span, learning disabilities, developmental delays and a range of other health and behavioral effects," Van Hollen said. "The department of justice will continue to work with the DNR to ensure that all contractors comply with hazardous waste laws."