CSI-Michigan-Asbestos, the Wild West television show

by: asagady

Thu Mar 26, 2009 at 15:35:39 PM EDT

Visual production values for television prospects are good.....one reputable Michigan asbestos
contractor even noted:  

        "If the State of Michigan wasn't out in the field to inspect asbestos jobs it would be like the wild, wild west."

Let me share a few storyboards for CSI-Michigan-Asbestos with you [below] from MDEQ files.......but first a pic of our main villain in the TV series.....

CSI-Michigan-Asbestos television series storyboards:

Scene 1:

MDEQ was contacted by a citizen complaining about possible asbestos exposure as a result of a renovation occurring at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Detroit.  A complaint investigation was promptly conducted by MDEQ and it was discovered that removal and disturbing of asbestos-containing materials was being conducted by unlicensed persons inside the facility. 

There were other trades working in the area where asbestos was being disturbed and the renovation work was ceased upon my inspection.  A referral was made to the Michigan Department of Labor, Energy, and Economic Growth, Asbestos Program, and prompt follow-up to insure the safety of persons in the facility was made.

Scene 2:

Pre-demolition inspection by MDEQ staff at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Romulus in 2007 discovered asbestos that was missed on the asbestos survey.  This resulted in the demolition being postponed, and an asbestos abatement was then performed due to the MDEQ inspection.  This site is on a heavily traveled roadway, and is near the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.  Thus, a potentially hazardous situation was averted due to the pre-demolition inspection.

Scene 3:

Pre-demolition inspection by MDEQ staff at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Inkster in 2008 resulted in discovery of hundreds of linear feet of thermal systems insulation that was not on the initial asbestos survey.  This resulted in the demolition being postponed until an asbestos abatement could be performed and all regulated asbestos removed prior to demolition.

Scene 4:

A pre-demolition inspection was conducted by MDEQ staff at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Belleville.  the MDEQ staff discovered hundreds of cubic feet of friable asbestos in the facility.  The demolition was postponed, and there was a proper removal of the asbestos by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor prior to the demolition.   A violation was issued to the demolition contractor (A New York Contractor) and to the owner.  Enforcement is calculating the penalty and creating a consent order for resolution.

Scene 5

An unannounced MDEQ staff inspection during an asbestos removal at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Belleville resulted in discovering asbestos being removed without the use of water.  This was discovered at the onset of asbestos removal.  The removal was stopped and resumed only after proper measures were taken to abate the asbestos in compliance with the NESHAP.  This site is near the Willow Run Airport.  A penalty of $24,192.00 was assessed for alleged violations of the NESHAP by MDEQ enforcement.

Scene 6:

An unannounced MDEQ staff asbestos inspection at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Romulus resulted in discovery of an improper asbestos inspection by a licensed asbestos company.  The job was stopped, and resumed only after proper measures were taken to remove the asbestos in compliance with the NESHAPs regulations.  A violation notice was issued to the asbestos company by the MDEQ, and enforcement is creating a stipulated penalty and consent order for resolution.

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We're also working on some other dramatic moments for
new CSI-Michigan-Asbestos programs.....

.....school and public buildings that must be emptied after renovation/demolition contractors facing no scrutiny over their methods create large scale, initially undetected asbestos contamination.

....MDEQ environmental conservation officers getting pulled off hazardous and solid waste investigations to answer asbestos calls
after the dedicated asbestos inspectors are gone, pulling them off of other environmental criminal investigation work.

It will take us a while to get these new scenes into production as MDEQ keeps running its "Clean Corporate Citizen"  television series with bad ratings.   Apparently, MDEQ managers
believe CCC to be more important than asbestos air pollution inspections.  

Those clever Senate republicans have Steve Chester all trapped and cornered in cognitive dissonance on the CCC matter since he had to agree to support CCC in order to get approved.  Those tricky republicans can always be expected to try to corrupt environmental regulation by wanting MDEQ to do CCC PR for members of the Michigan Manafacturers Association....so it  goes....