The owners of eight senior living facilities in California, including Canterbury Woods in Pacific Grove, agreed to pay $1.125 million for violations of asbestos-related laws, that took place between 2014 and 2022, when they were owned exclusively by Covia Communities and Covia Group, Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni announced on July 26.
The settlement with Glendale-based Front Porch Communities and Services, a nonprofit company, came as the result of a lawsuit filed by district attorneys offices in Monterey, Santa Clara, Alameda, San Francisco and Sonoma counties, where the eight facilities are located. Front Porch and Covia merged in March 2022, with a combined total of 51 communities serving approximately 7,500 residents at the time of the merger.
The Environmental Protection Unit of the Monterey County DA’s office got involved after Monterey Bay Air Resources District inspectors found a violation of a regulation called the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants at Canterbury Woods in 2021, according to a MBARD press release issued on Aug. 6.
NESHAP was created to minimize the release of asbestos fibers during demolition or remodeling, which could disturb asbestos and pose a health hazard. Building owners must test for asbestos before construction, even if the building was previously renovated. Possible effects of asbestos exposure include lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.
MBARD inspectors found disturbed construction materials which had not been sampled and tested for asbestos before construction had begun and MBARD officials referred the case to the DA’s office. Additional investigations by the Environmental Protection Unit resulted in the case expanding to other jurisdictions, according to the MBARD release.
According to the DA’s announcement, Front Porch officials were cooperative with prosecutors during the investigation. Of the $1.125 million settlement, $700,000 is for civil penalties, $262,500 is to reimburse investigative costs and $162,500 will go toward a college-level science course in the Monterey Bay area to educate students about air pollution and air quality management.