STATE OF
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BEFORE THE
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COUNTY OF
MARION |
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ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT |
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COMMISSIONER
OF THE DEPARTMENT |
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OF
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, |
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Complainant, |
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Case No. 2019-26092-A |
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TAEGEN
DEVLOPMENT, INC., |
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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 Indiana Code (“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 IC
13-13-1-1.
2.
Respondent
is Taegen Development, Inc. (“Respondent”), which owns and operates a
commercial restoration company located at 9425 N. Meridian Street in
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.
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”) in conjunction with this Agreed Order via Certified Mail
to:
Laurence M. Jones, President and
Registered Agent
Taegen Development, Inc.
9425 N. Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46260
5.
During
an investigation including an inspection on March 19,2019 conducted by a
representative of IDEM, the following violations were found:
a.
Pursuant
to 326 IAC 14-10-4(1), each owner or operator of a demolition or renovation
activity is required to remove all regulated asbestos containing materials from
a facility being demolished or renovated before any activity begins that could
disturb the material.
Respondent failed to remove asbestos containing
material RACM from a commercial building under renovation located at 1125 E.
Brookside Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana (the “Site”) before demolition or
renovation activity began, in violation of 326 IAC 14-10-4(1).
b.
Pursuant
to 326 IAC 18-1-3(a)(5), no person shall implement an
asbestos project at a facility without current licensing by IDEM.
Respondent
failed to use a licensed asbestos abatement contractor to remove asbestos from
the Site, in violation of 326 IAC 18-1-3(a)(5).
6.
Respondent
provided final visual certification documentation on June 25, 2019 to certify
that the asbestos material at issue had been abated and disposed of on May 13,
2019.
7.
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 the rules listed
in the findings of fact above.
3.
All submittals required by this Agreed Order,
unless IDEM notifies the Respondent otherwise in writing, shall be sent to:
Jennifer
Bailey, Enforcement Case Manager
Office of Air Quality
Indiana
Department of Environmental Management
100 North
Senate Avenue
Indianapolis,
IN 46204-2251
4.
Pursuant to IC 13-30-4-1, Respondent is
assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty of Seven Thousand Dollars ($7,000). Said penalty amount shall be due and payable
to the Asbestos Trust Fund within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date; the thirtieth
day being the “Due 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.
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.
7.
Signatories to this Agreed Order certify that
they are fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind the
party they represent.
8.
This Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding
upon Respondent and all successors and assigns. Respondent shall provide a copy
of this Agreed Order, if in force, to any subsequent owners, successors, or
assigns before ownership rights are transferred.
9.
No change in ownership, corporate, or
partnership status of Respondent shall in any way alter the Respondent’s status
or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.
10.
Respondent shall ensure that all contractors,
firms, and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with
the terms of this Agreed Order.
11.
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.
12.
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 the obligation
to comply with the requirements of any applicable permits or any applicable
Federal or State laws or regulations.
13.
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.
14.
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 violations
specified in the NOV.
15.
Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM
or anyone acting on its behalf from communicating with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (“U.S. 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 U.S. EPA or any other agency or entity.
16.
This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until
Respondent has complied with all terms and conditions of this Agreed Order and
IDEM has issued 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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Taegen
Development, Inc. |
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By: |
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By: |
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David
P. McIver, Chief |
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Enforcement
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Office
of Air Quality |
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COUNSEL
FOR RESPONDENT: |
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By: |
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Date: |
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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 December 10, 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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