Company Fined For Alaska Asbestos Release

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An Alaska company has been fined $70,000 and placed on three years of probation for releasing asbestos into the air in Anchorage.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline (BISTE’-line) last week also ordered Copper River Campus to hire an environmental consultant to make sure it commits no more violations.

Copper River Campus owns and manages buildings used by Copper River Seafoods on East 5th Avenue.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the company knew buildings contained dangerous asbestos but ordered them to be demolished or renovated in March 2010.

Inspectors from the Environmental Protection Agency halted the work. Prosecutors say the work put friable chrysotile asbestos, the most common variety, into the air.

No injuries were reported from the release.