STATE OF
INDIANA |
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BEFORE THE
INDIANA DEPARTMENT |
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COMMISSIONER
OF THE DEPARTMENT Complainant, v. NSH I’VEST,
LLC, Respondent. |
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AGREED
ORDER
Complainant
and Respondent desire to settle and compromise this action without hearing or
adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and consent to the entry of the
following Findings of Fact and Order.
Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, entry into the terms of this Agreed Order does
not constitute an admission of any violation contained herein. Respondent's entry into this Agreed Order
shall not constitute a waiver of any defense, legal or equitable, which
Respondent may have in any future administrative or judicial proceeding, except
a proceeding to enforce this order.
I. FINDINGS OF FACT
1.
Complainant is the Commissioner (“Complainant”)
of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (“IDEM”), a department of
the State of Indiana created by Indiana Code (“IC”) 13-13-1-1.
2.
Respondent is NSH I’Vest,
LLC (“Respondent”), which owns the property located at 715 East 17th
Street in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (“Site”).
3.
IDEM has jurisdiction over the parties and the
subject matter of this action.
4.
Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, IDEM issued a Notice
of Violation (“NOV”) via Certified Mail on September 13, 2019 to:
Neil S Handley, President &
Registered Agent
NSH I’Vest,
LLC
7601 Newport Bay Drive, Unit 202
Indianapolis, 46240-3379
5.
All rule citations herein refer to the rule in
effect at the time of the inspection unless otherwise noted.
6.
During an investigation including an inspection
of the Site on May 3, 2017 conducted by a representative of IDEM, the following
violations were found:
a. Pursuant to 326 IAC 14-10-1(a), the owner
or operator of a demolition or renovation activity shall have an Indiana
licensed inspector thoroughly inspect the facility for the presence of asbestos
prior to engaging in any activity that could disturb the asbestos.
Respondent failed to have the facility
inspected by an Indiana licensed inspector prior to engaging in an activity
that could disturb asbestos, in violation of 326 IAC 14-10-1(a).
b. Pursuant to 326 IAC 18-1-3(a)(1), no person shall inspect for asbestos containing
materials at a facility without current licensing by IDEM.
Respondent failed to have this asbestos
project inspected by a currently licensed inspector, in violation of 326 IAC
18-1-3(a)(1).
c.
Pursuant to 326 IAC
Respondent failed to remove asbestos
containing material in the facility before demolition or renovation activity
began, in violation of 326 IAC 14-10-4(1).
d.
Pursuant to 326 IAC 14-10-4(2) & 326 IAC
14-10-4(6)(A), asbestos shall be adequately wetted, properly handled and disposed
of to ensure asbestos fibers will not be released during or after removal.
Respondent failed to adequately wet or
properly handle asbestos material during or after removal, in violation of 326
IAC 14-10-4(2) & 326 IAC 14-10-4(6)(A).
e.
Pursuant to 326 IAC 14-10-4(13), no person
shall implement an asbestos project at a facility without current licensing by
IDEM.
Respondent failed to implement this
asbestos project using currently licensed workers, in violation of 326 IAC 14-10-4(13).
7.
Respondent stopped all activity until an
asbestos abatement company inspected and removed the regulated asbestos
containing material.
8.
Orders of the Commissioner are subject to
administrative review by the Office of Environmental Adjudication under IC
4-21.5; however, in recognition of the settlement reached, Respondent
acknowledges notice of this right and waives any right to administrative and
judicial review of this Agreed Order.
II. ORDER
1.
This Agreed Order shall be effective
(“Effective Date”) when it is approved by Complainant or Complainant’s
delegate, and has been received by Respondent.
This Agreed Order shall have no force or effect until the Effective
Date.
2.
Respondent shall comply with rules listed in
the findings above at issue.
3.
All submittals required by this Agreed Order,
unless Respondent is notified otherwise in writing by IDEM, shall be sent to:
Lisa Hayhurst,
Enforcement Case Manager |
Compliance and Enforcement Branch –
Mail Code 61-53 |
Indiana Department of Environmental
Management |
100 North Senate Avenue |
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251 |
4.
Respondent is assessed and agrees to pay a
civil penalty of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00). Said penalty amount shall be due and payable
to the Asbestos Trust Fund in six (6) monthly payments, with the initial
payment of Eight Hundred Thirty-Five Dollars ($835.00) due within thirty (30)
days of the Effective Date; the 30th day being the “Due Date” and
the remaining five (5) payments of Eight Hundred Thirty-Three Dollars ($833.00)
each, with the second payment due within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date,
the third payment due within ninety (90) days of the Effective Date, the fourth
payment due within one hundred twenty (120) days of the Effective Date, the
fifth payment due within one hundred fifty (150) days of the Effective Date,
and the sixth payment due within one hundred eighty (180) days of the Effective
Date.
5.
Civil penalties are payable by check to the
“Asbestos Trust Fund” Checks shall include the Case Number of this action and
shall be mailed to:
Indiana
Department of Environmental Management |
Accounts
Receivable |
IGCN,
Room 1340 |
100
North Senate Avenue |
Indianapolis,
IN 46204 |
6.
This Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding
upon Respondent and its successors and assigns. Respondent’s signatories to this
Agreed Order certify that they are fully authorized to execute this Agreed
Order and legally bind the party they represent. No change in ownership, corporate, or
partnership status of Respondent shall in any way alter its status or
responsibilities under this Agreed Order.
7.
In the event that the monies due to IDEM
pursuant to this Agreed Order are not paid on or before their Due Date,
Respondent shall pay interest on the unpaid balance at the rate established by
IC 24-4.6-1. The interest shall be
computed as having accrued from the Due Date until the date that Respondent
pays any unpaid balance. Such interest
shall be payable to the Asbestos Trust Fund, and shall be payable to IDEM in
the manner specified in Paragraph 5, above.
8.
In the event that any terms of this Agreed
Order are found to be invalid, the remaining terms shall remain in full force
and effect and shall be construed and enforced as if this Agreed Order did not
contain the invalid terms.
9.
Respondent shall provide a copy of this Agreed
Order, if in force, to any subsequent owners or successors before ownership
rights are transferred. Respondent shall ensure that all
contractors, firms and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order
comply with the terms of this Agreed Order.
10.
This Agreed Order is not and shall not be
interpreted to be a permit or a modification of an existing permit. This Agreed Order, and IDEM’s review or
approval of any submittal made by Respondent pursuant to this Agreed Order,
shall not in any way relieve Respondent of its obligation to comply with the
requirements of its applicable permits or any applicable Federal or State law or
regulation.
11.
Complainant does not, by its approval of this
Agreed Order, warrant or aver in any manner that Respondent’s compliance with
any aspect of this Agreed Order will result in compliance with the provisions
of any permit, order, or any applicable Federal or State law or
regulation. Additionally, IDEM or anyone
acting on its behalf shall not be held liable for any costs or penalties
Respondent may incur as a result of Respondent’s efforts to comply with this
Agreed Order.
12.
Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent or
limit IDEM’s rights to obtain penalties or injunctive relief under any
applicable Federal or State law or regulation, except that IDEM may not, and
hereby waives its right to, seek additional civil penalties for the same
violations specified in the NOV.
13.
Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM
or anyone acting on its behalf from communicating with the EPA or any other
agency or entity about any matters relating to this enforcement action. IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not
be held liable for any costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of
such communications with the EPA or any other agency or entity.
14.
This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until
IDEM issues a Resolution of Case letter to Respondent.
TECHNICAL
RECOMMENDATION: |
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RESPONDENT: |
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Department
of Environmental Management |
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NSH
I’Vest, LLC |
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By: |
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David
P. McIver, Chief |
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Printed: |
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Enforcement
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Title: |
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Office
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COUNSEL
FOR RESPONDENT: |
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APPROVED
AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL |
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MANAGEMENT THIS |
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DAY OF |
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2019. |
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For
the Commissioner |
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Signed
on October 31, 2019 |
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Matthew
Stuckey, Deputy Assistant Commissioner |
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Office
of Air Quality |
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Indiana
Department of Environmental Management |
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