[FONT=Verdana]The New Mexico Environment Department has issued a compliance order to a Texas demolition contractor for failing to notify the department before conducting work related to the demolition of base housing at White Sands Missile Range. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The demolition was necessary for a new housing project. White Sands hired Border Demolition and Environmental Inc. to clean up asbestos waste uncovered by another contractor at the southern New Mexico demolition site. State officials said the company failed to notify the department of the work and failed to account for several bags of asbestos waste from the project. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]Jim Norton, division director of the Environmental Protection Division, said the managers at White Sands and contractors working for the base were aware of the presence of concrete asbestos pipe at the project site and failed to inform the department of the fact, which is required by state law. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]State Air Quality regulations require contractors to determine if asbestos is present in buildings prior to starting demolition or renovation work. If asbestos is found, contractors must file a demolition/renovation notification form with the department's Air Quality Bureau before beginning work. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana]The department could fine Border Demolition and Environmental up to $15,000 per day for failure to file a proper notice and up to $5,000 per day for solid waste violations for failing to account for the asbestos. White Sands and other contractors on the project also could face enforcement actions. [/FONT]