The Attorney General's Office has initiated legal proceedings against MetroWest Environmental Services, a company based in East Boston. The lawsuit, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, accuses the company of mishandling and improperly removing asbestos-containing siding from a two-family residence on Hayward Street in Milford.
According to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), MetroWest's actions breached the Massachusetts Clean Air Act. The AGO is seeking court orders for MetroWest to pay penalties and cease any noncompliant practices that endanger workers and residents.
The allegations state that during two days in May 2023, MetroWest committed multiple violations of asbestos regulations. These included improper handling and storage of asbestos-containing materials in a densely populated area. The company reportedly broke the siding during removal, left it exposed to air at the site, and failed to adequately seal the work area to prevent dust and debris leakage into interior spaces.
Further claims indicate that workers were allowed to handle asbestos without protective gear, exposing them to hazardous material. These violations allegedly persisted despite warnings from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).
Asbestos is recognized as a dangerous substance and human carcinogen regulated by MassDEP and the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards. There is no safe level of exposure due to serious health risks associated with asbestos fibers released into the air when disturbed.
Assistant Attorney General John S. Craig from the AGO’s Environmental Protection Division is managing this case along with Chief Regional Counsel Anne Blackman, Regional Counsel Rebecca Gobeil, Deputy Regional Director John Volkerding, and Environmental Analysts Christa Cronk and Eric Gomes from MassDEP.