Robert Langill, Violating 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(1), Maryland 2008

PATUXENT RIVER, MD – A former asbestos abatement project supervisor was sentenced in January 2008 following a guilty plea to knowingly violating the Clean Air Act (CAA). Robert Langill, employed by a Maryland-based asbestos abatement company, intentionally disregarded federal and state regulations while removing asbestos-containing materials from Naval Air Station Patuxent River in 2003.

According to court documents, Langill directed workers to aggressively dismantle transite panels known to contain asbestos using hammers and crowbars. This reckless method, employed between October 2003 and January 8, 2004, caused the panels to shatter upon impact, releasing dangerous asbestos fibers into the air. Crucially, the panels were not adequately wetted – a standard safety procedure designed to contain the hazardous material – and no prior notification was given to the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE), the designated state agency responsible for overseeing asbestos abatement projects.

The improper handling extended beyond the abatement process itself. Following the destructive removal, the broken asbestos-containing debris was haphazardly collected in unlabelled and poorly sealed bags. These bags were then left unsecured overnight in a company-owned truck on the grounds of the naval facility, further increasing the risk of fiber release and potential exposure to personnel and the surrounding environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) criminal investigation uncovered a deliberate pattern of non-compliance. Langill’s actions weren’t simply negligent; investigators determined he *knowingly* violated established safety protocols, prioritizing speed and cost-cutting over the health and safety of workers and the public. The U.S. Navy contracted the company to perform the work, expecting adherence to all applicable environmental regulations.

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Legal Ramifications

Langill was initially charged on September 24, 2007, with one count of violating 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(1) of the Clean Air Act, which specifically addresses the knowing violation of regulations related to asbestos handling. He subsequently pled guilty on October 26, 2007. On January 10, 2008, Judge sentenced Langill to 60 days of incarceration, followed by a 24-month period of supervised release. As part of the supervised release, Langill was required to spend 10 months under home detention. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee.

Key Facts

Defendant: Robert Langill
Location: U.S. Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland
Dates of Violation: October 2003 – January 8, 2004
Statute Violated: 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(1) – Clean Air Act (CAA)
Method of Violation: Dry removal of asbestos-containing materials with hammers and crowbars, lack of notification to MDE, improper storage of asbestos waste.
Sentence: 60 days incarceration, 24 months supervised release (10 months home detention), $100 assessment.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences associated with the improper handling of asbestos, a known carcinogen. The EPA continues to aggressively pursue criminal enforcement actions against individuals and companies who knowingly endanger public health and the environment through non-compliance with environmental regulations.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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