New Mexico Reaches Environmental Deal With Paving Firm

Regulators in New Mexico reached an agreement with a paving firm that will require the company to pay $75,000 in fines for mishandling asbestos waste in Bloomfield in 2009.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the settlement announced Monday requires Advantage Asphalt and Seal Coating to pay the civil penalty and surrender its commercial hauler certificate.

The loss of the certificate will prevent the firm from hauling any solid waste in the future.

The company’s owners were indicted in February on felony fraud charges for alleged theft of public resources.

The firm admitted to eight of the 11 alleged violations lodged by environmental regulators.

One of the allegations – that the firm had disposed of asbestos on the ground near a school – was proven to be false.