The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced today that it has reached an agreement with Compass Restoration Services, LLC (“Compass”) — a Ludlow-based asbestos and lead abatement company — to resolve allegations that the company violated the Massachusetts Clean Air Act and its asbestos regulations by illegally removing, handling, and storing asbestos-containing materials during three separate renovation projects at a commercial facility in South Hadley and two single-family homes in Ashfield and East Longmeadow. The AGO alleged that these violations led to the repeated exposure of the public, employees and nearby residents to airborne asbestos fibers.  

Asbestos is a hazardous material and known human carcinogen regulated under the Clean Air Act. It is used as fireproofing in a wide variety of building materials, from roofing and flooring, to siding and wallboard, to caulking and insulation, and is especially prevalent in older construction. If asbestos is improperly handled or maintained, fibers can be released into the air and inhaled, devastating the lungs, causing scarring, malfunction, and potentially life-threatening illnesses, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Once disturbed, asbestos fibers can remain airborne and therefore breathable for up to 72 hours. Because of the serious health risks associated with asbestos, there is no safe level of exposure.