Delaware-based Life Technologies Corp. has been assessed a $7,940 penalty by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for violations of state asbestos regulations that occurred during work conducted at its former facility located at 94-96 South St. in Hopkinton.

The violations were observed during an inspection of the site conducted in August 2009, according to a statement. MassDEP inspectors discovered pieces of floor tiles coated with asbestos-containing adhesive uncontained in an open-top roll off container located in the parking lot at the site. The company, which was vacating the facility, had the floor tiles removed as part of efforts to return the leased space to its pre-occupancy condition.

The company was cited for failing to notify MassDEP of a demolition/renovation operation involving asbestos-containing materials; improper removal, handling, packaging and storage of asbestos-containing materials; and allowing asbestos-containing materials to be handled in a manner that caused or contributed to a condition of air pollution at the site.

"Corporations in Massachusetts must be fully aware of their responsibilities under the regulations to thoroughly inspect areas of their facilities for the presence of asbestos-containing materials prior to commencing renovation or demolition work," said Michael J. Maher, acting deputy director of MassDEP’s Central regional office in Worcester. "Failure to identify and remove asbestos materials prior to commencing such operations is an extremely serious, and ultimately a costly oversight that potentially exposes workers and the general public to a known carcinogen. As this case illustrates, noncompliance such as this inevitably results in significant penalty exposure, as well as escalated cleanup, decontamination, disposal and monitoring costs."

Under the terms of the negotiated settlement, MassDEP suspended $1,940 of the assessed penalty, provided that the company completes a Supplemental Environmental Project.