The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued complaints against three contractors used by the New York City School Construction Authority to clean up asbestos in the city’s schools.
The complaints this month stem from E.P.A. inspections in September. They charge that the contractors used workers and supervisors who lacked proper accreditation from the state health department. Workers are accredited after passing a course in the detection and handling of asbestos.
The three contractors were Admiral Abatement Inc. of New York City, National Environmental Safety Company Inc. of Long Island City, N.Y., and Trio Asbestos Company of College Point, N.Y. Their fines ranged from $5,000 to $15,000.
The start of school was delayed in New York City last year to allow an emergency cleanup of asbestos after an investigation found flaws in federally mandated inspections. (See Education Week, Sept. 8, 1993.)
