A state inspection in November 2010 found a large quantity of asbestos siding had been removed from the house and stored in open recycling bins, according to court documents.
SPRINGFIELD – A Grafton woman pleaded innocent Tuesday in Hampden Superior Court to charges relating to improper asbestos removal from her property at 100 Pearl St.
Susan Nissenbaum, 59, is charged with three violations of the state Clean Air Act in the case brought by the state Attorney General’s office. She is free on personal recognizance.
According to a statement in the case file from Assistant Attorney General Andrew Rainer, a state inspection in November 2010 found a large quantity of asbestos siding had been removed from the house and stored in open recycling bins and open or torn trash bags under the porch as well as in the basement.
The state said Nissenbaum bought 100 Pearl St. in August 2007.
She submitted a notice to the state Department of Environmental Protection in 2007 for the removal of asbestos wall board and roofing acknowledging she knew certain procedures were mandated.
According to the state, in the fall of 2009 Nissenbaum began paying two prospective tenants to renovate the property, including removing siding.
Although she knew it contained asbestos she didn’t tell her tenants how it needed to be handled, nor ensure they had proper training and equipment.
She didn’t notify Environmental Protection before starting and didn’t ensure the tenants followed procedures to protect themselves or ensure no asbestos fibers were released into the air, according to Rainer.
Therefore, the tenants and their children “unwittingly participated in an unsafe asbestos removal project,” he wrote.
The situation came to the attention of the state when a private company notified Environmental Protection it has been asked to dispose of asbestos-containing material at the property.
The charges are failing to give notice of a project involving asbestos, failing to follow proper procedures and improper asbestos storage.