Boston Building owner fined for violating asbestos removal laws

SALT LAKE CITY — A company that owns the Boston Building admitted to violating federal clean air regulations for asbestos removal during a renovation project.

HP Boston Building LLC received a $500,000 fine and 36 months probation in U.S. District Court on Wednesday. Judge David Nuffer also ordered it to conduct asbestos training for its employees and other entities affiliated with Hamilton Partners Inc., in Utah and Illinois.

The company acknowledged that prior to demolition and renovation of the building at 9 Exchange Place, it failed to thoroughly inspect areas where the work was being done for asbestos in 2007. The demolition project involved at least 160 square feet of asbestos and at least 260 linear feet of asbestos on pipes.

"When companies have information that requires further investigation regarding asbestos in their building and then fail to take the necessary measures to protect their workers and the public from asbestos exposure, they will not only have to spend vast sums of money remediating the contamination, they will be prosecuted,” U.S. Attorney for Utah David B. Barlow said.

— Dennis Romboy

Twitter: dennisromboy