The Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) is the delegated authority to enforce the federal asbestos
regulation in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties. The Environmental Protection Agency
established the regulation which is called the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
(NESHAP) for asbestos in 1973. The asbestos NESHAP is intended to minimize the release of asbestos fibers
during activities which disturb asbestos containing materials to protect human health. The main health effects
of exposure to asbestos are lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Asbestos is a naturally occurring
mineral often used in man-made materials which can be found in insulation, vinyl flooring, wall texture,
fireproofing, acoustic ceilings, roofing materials, as well as many other materials.
MBARD inspectors found violations of the asbestos NESHAP at the senior living facility Canterbury Woods
located in Pacific Grove and owned by Front Porch. The regulation requires a survey to sample and test
materials to determine whether asbestos is present prior to renovation or demolition activities, even if a
facility has previously been renovated. In 2021, MBARD found disturbed materials which had not been
sampled and tested before construction activities commenced. MBARD then referred the case to the
Monterey County District Attorney for prosecution and their additional investigations resulted in a multi-
jurisdictional case.
On July 26, 2024, the Monterey County District Attorney Environmental Protection Unit, along with the District
Attorney’s Offices of Santa Clara, Alameda, San Francisco, and Sonoma, reached a settlement with Front Porch
Communities and Services for violations of asbestos-related laws at eight senior living facilities in California.
Front Porch Communities and Services was cooperative with the prosecutors during the investigation and
agreed to pay a total of $1,125,000 to settle the multi-jurisdiction case. MBARD will receive $150,000 in civil
penalties, $45,000 in cost recovery, and $132,500 to fund a college-level science course in the Monterey Bay
area to educate students about air pollution and air quality management.
Information about the asbestos NESHAP requirements can be found on MBARD’s website:
https://www.mbard.org/asbestos-renovation-demolition
Richard A. Stedman
Air Pollution Control Officer
