S.C. Officials Indicted for Exposing Firemen to Asbestos

The Marion, South Carolina, city administrator and its fire chief have been indicted on charges of knowingly exposing staff, volunteer workers and community members to toxic asbestos. Both were granted a personal recognizance bond at their arraignment Nov. 17 in the Marion County Courthouse. City Administrator Alan Thomas Ammons and Fire Chief Ralph Walton Cooper III were charged with misconduct in office, conspiracy to violate the Pollution Control Act, and violation of the Pollution Control Act. All three indictments — signed by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson — were filed Nov. 2, 2017. The alleged violations were between Feb. 1 and May 1 of 2017 at the Marion Fire Station. The indictments contend Cooper and Ammons allowed continued use of the facility during that period, despite knowing asbestos was present. The indictments stem from an inspection by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) in October 2016 that discovered exposed asbestos. Hurricane Cleanup Exposes Asbestos in Floor The asbestos was found in floor tiles that were being replaced as part of cleanup efforts following Hurricane Matthew, which hit the area Oct. 6, 2016. Officials from the DHEC, after their inspection, had requested the recreation room at the fire station and adjacent rooms be closed until asbestos abatement could be completed. Ammons and Cooper are being blamed for allowing the rooms to remain open. Ammons, near the end of May, told WPDE the cit...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Alan Thomas Ammons Alan Wilson asbestos exposure Ashley Brady Marion Fire Station Pollution Control Act Ralph Walton Cooper South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Source Type: news