Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Standing guard ... City gears up for hearings on future growth ... Medford School District on the hunt for teachers ... Standing guard ... City gears up for hearings on future growth ... Medford School District on the hunt for teachers ... ENVIRONMENT Company fined for illegally dumping asbestos in White City Comment By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 9, 2015 at 6:57 PM Updated Feb 10, 2015 at 9:52 AM By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 9, 2015 at 6:57 PM Updated Feb 10, 2015 at 9:52 AM » Social News WHITE CITY — The owner of a Grants Pass roofing recycling company said she had no idea she was illegally storing asbestos at a White City yard or violating other environmental laws that led to a nearly $50,000 state fine that put her out of business. The state Department of Environmental Quality's Jan. 27 order against Barbara Hedrick, who owns Roof Recovery Project, states she allowed nearly 1,500 cubic yards of roofing material to illegally accumulate outside for about 18 months. One of eight samples of material tested positive for asbestos, a respiratory hazard proven to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis, according to the DEQ. Hedrick told the Mail Tribune that she was assured by the roofers who supplied the old asphalt shingles that they did not contain any asbestos. Hedrick also said she was unaware she needed a solid waste disposal permit from the DEQ to hold that material, which she intended to grind into material used for dust control in road projects. "We in no way ever attempted to do anything wrong or sneaky," Hedrick said. "We had no idea anything was wrong. It completely shocked us." Of the $47,578 fine, $23,578 of it represents money she saved by not properly disposing of the material, which has remained at the lot in the 3800 block of Crater Lake Highway, according to the DEQ's Jan. 27 letter notifying Hedrick of the fine. "The violation remains ongoing because the violation hasn't been corrected," said Kieran O'Donnell, a DEQ environmental law specialist in Portland who worked on the case. "As of Jan. 27, all the material was out there." O'Donnell said he did not know how the violation came to the DEQ's attention. David Edsch, the DEQ's solid waste specialist in Medford, was unavailable for comment late Monday. Hedrick said DEQ inspectors showed up at the yard she rents one day in September, said she needed the permit and that they could see some asbestos in the pile. "It was like up jumped the devil," Hedrick said. "Boom. It put us out of business, just like that." Hedrick has until Feb. 19 to appeal the civil penalty. She said she likely will seek legal advice before the deadline. The DEQ could also recalculate the fine should she incur cleanup costs. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman . By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 9, 2015 at 6:57 PM Updated Feb 10, 2015 at 9:52 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501