A Brush Prairie, OR contractor has been fined $30,409 by Oregon environmental regulators for allegedly violating state regulations in handling asbestos.

Able Contractors Inc. has appealed the fine, according to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality spokesman Bryan Smith. Company officials did not return a call for comment from The Columbian after the DEQ made the announcement on Tuesday.

The penalty relates to several violations alleged by the DEQ from an asbestos abatement project the company performed at a retirement facility in Newberg, according to the DEQ. Among the violations, the DEQ alleges that the company fell short in documenting the project and removed containment material before sampling air quality.

Earlier this year, the DEQ fined the same company $17,588 for violations stemming from an asbestos abatement project in Yamhill, Ore. The company did not appeal, but DEQ spokesman Brian Smith said Able Contractors has not paid the penalty.

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed by repair, remodeling or demolition activities, microscopic fibers become airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems.