An asbestos abatement contractor, A & E Environmental of Leominster, has been penalized $14,312 after the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) determined that the company violated state asbestos regulations for a second time within a year.

A & E had been fined $19,312.50 in May of 2014 for asbestos violations at a residential building in Millbury. The firm paid $5,000 of the penalty, but MassDEP suspended the remaining amount with the stipulation that the company have no further violations for a year.

However, on December 30, 2014, MassDEP observed new asbestos violations by the company at a job on Lake Street in Shrewsbury. MassDEP observed that the company had failed to adequately seal the work area and failed to use a HEPA-filtered air ventilation system to control asbestos fibers. As a result of those violations, MassDEP issued a Demand for Payment to A & E to collect the $14,312 penalty previously suspended.

MassDEP required the company personnel to correct the violations in the Shrewsbury location at the time of the inspection.