ACHD Takes Enforcement Action on Asbestos Abatement, Open Burning Violations

Editor’s Note: The Allegheny County Health Department periodically updates its website to include documents related to air quality enforcement actions. As part of our watchdog work, GASP monitors this webpage and reports on the air quality violations posted there.

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has taken enforcement action against two companies for asbestos abatement-related violations and a resident for open burning infractions.

While many people think asbestos is a thing of the past, it’s still very much a public health issue here in Allegheny County.

Exposure to airborne asbestos fibers can cause serious health issues including asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and pleural disease. And there is no safe minimum level of exposure to asbestos. An estimated 10,000 cases of asbestos-related disease occur each year in the U.S. as a result of past exposures.

ACHD on April 25 issued an $8,000 penalty to Grandview South Homes, Mistick Construction Company, Hilltop Alliance, and Gatesburg Road Development for failing to provide notification of the state of demolition activities at The Grandview South Homes Project.

By way of background: The Grandview South Homes Project is a publicly funded, urban renewal project involving the demolition of eight structures in the Allentown neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The demolition activity for this urban renewal project requires notification 10 days prior to the start of demolition activities. 

We want to note that this is not the first time that Mistick Construction appeared on the ACHD enforcement docket. ACHD also took asbestos-related enforcement action against the company in 2022. The company was also issued a warning of violation letter that year.

You can read the entire enforcement document here.

The enforcement action has been appealed. You can read the appeal document here.

The department on May 23 suspended the asbestos abatement license for Green Development after its manager Naydia Green reportedly submitted false information to ACHD through an asbestos abatement permit application and demolition notice for a publicly funded project in Wilkinsburg. 

According to the enforcement document:

The false or inaccurate information included work practices listed in the application were not being utilized and that air monitoring was to take place and there was no air monitoring occurring. 

The municipally funded demolition activity at 1402 Hill Avenue requires notification ten days prior to the start of demolition activities. Green Development failed to notify ACHD of demolition activity 10 days prior to the start of work for the structure at 1402 Hill Street. 

To have its asbestos abatement contractor license reinstated, Green Development must submit a compliance plan “describing how they will correct all compliance issues and demonstrate an ability and willingness to comply with all Article XXI Requirements and to not submit false information to ACHD.”

You can read the entire enforcement document here.

ACHD also took enforcement action against William Lysaght of South Park, who the department said was burning wooden furniture at his residence.

ACHD issued a $935 civil penalty in the wake of repeated open burning complaints from neighbors.

For the uninitiated: No material other than untreated clean wood, propane, or natural gas may be burned per ACHD open burning regs.

You can read the entire enforcement document here.