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STATE OF INDIANA    )        BEFORE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT
                )    SS:    OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
COUNTY OF MARION    )

COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT    )
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,    )
                            )
        Complainant,                )
                            )
            v.                )    CAUSE NO. A-3838
                            )
HOBBY LOBBY STORES, INC.,            )
                            )
        Respondent.                )

AGREED ORDER

    The Complainant and the Respondent desire to settle and compromise this action without hearing or adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and consent to the entry of the following Findings of Fact and Order. Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, entry into the terms of this Agreed Order does not constitute an admission of any violation contained herein.

I. FINDINGS OF FACT

    1.    Complainant is the Commissioner (hereinafter referred to as "Complainant") of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, a department of the State of Indiana created by IC 13-13-1-1.

    2.    Respondent is Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., located at 7707 Southwest 44th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, (hereinafter referred to as "Respondent"), and the owner/operator of the building located at 2121 Sagamore Parkway South in Lafayette, Indiana (the "Site").

    3.    The Indiana Department of Environmental Management ("IDEM") has jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter of this action.


    4.    Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, IDEM issued a Notice of Violation on July 14, 1997, via Certified Mail to:

            Steve Seay, Director
            Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
            7707 Southwest 44th Street
            Oklahoma City, OK 73179

    5.    On or about January 14, 1997, Respondent implemented a renovation project at the Site, to which the requirements of 326 IAC 14-10 applied, pursuant to 326 IAC 14-10-1(c).

    6.    Rule 326 IAC 18-3-3(a)(4) prohibits the implementation of an asbestos removal project at a facility subject to 326 IAC 14-10 without accreditation by the Commissioner.

    7.    On January 14, 1997, a representative of IDEM conducted an inspection of the Site. During the inspection, piles of asbestos-containing ceiling tile were observed on the floor in the area where the workers of the Hobby Lobby Stores were working. The inspector learned the Hobby Lobby workers had knocked the ceiling tiles down. None of the Hobby Lobby workers were accredited to remove asbestos. This situation constitutes a violation of 326 IAC 18-3-3(a)(4).

    8.    On August 13, 1997, representatives of Respondent met with representatives of IDEM to discuss resolution of this cause. Based on documentation provided by Respondent, the violation of 326 IAC 14-10-4(11)(B) alleged in the Notice of Violation has been dismissed.

    9.    In recognition of the settlement reached, Respondent waives any right to administrative and judicial review of this Agreed Order.

II. ORDER

    1.    This Agreed Order shall be effective ("Effective Date") when it is approved by the Complainant or his delegate, and has been received by the Respondent. This Agreed Order shall have no force or effect until the Effective Date.

    2.    Within 90 days of the Effective Date of this Agreed Order, Respondent shall ensure that all current employees that may be involved in building demolition or renovation-related activities, including superintendents, foremen and workers, attend, at a minimum, an asbestos awareness training course.

    3.    Within thirty (30) days of the training, Respondent shall submit to IDEM documentation of the initial training of the current applicable employees, such as the course outline and attendance sheet.

    4.    For any new employee that is hired into an applicable position, as listed above, Respondent shall ensure that the employee receives asbestos awareness training within ninety (90) days of the hire date.

    5.    Respondent shall ensure that records documenting the asbestos training be maintained for each applicable employee until that employee no longer performs the related activities for Respondent and that all the applicable employees be retrained on an annual basis.

    6.    All submittals required by this Agreed Order, unless notified otherwise in writing, shall be sent to:

        Ginger Rees, Enforcement Case Manager
        Office of Enforcement, Room N1315
        Indiana Department of Environmental Management
        P. O. Box 6015
        Indianapolis, IN 46206-6015

    7.    Respondent is assessed a civil penalty of Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500). Said penalty amount shall be due and payable to the Asbestos Trust Fund within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date of this Agreed Order.

    8.    Civil penalties are payable by check to the Asbestos Trust Fund. Checks shall include the Cause Number of this action and shall be mailed to:

            Cashier
            IDEM
            P. O. Box 7060
            Indianapolis, IN 46207-7060

    9.    In the event that the civil penalty required by paragraph 7 is not paid within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date of this Agreed Order, Respondent shall pay interest on the unpaid balance at the rate established by IC 24-4.6-1-101. The interest shall continue to accrue until the civil penalty is paid in full.

    10.    This Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding upon the Respondent, its officers, directors, principals, agents, successors, subsidiaries, and assigns. The Respondent's signatories to this Agreed Order certify that they are fully authorized to execute this document and legally bind the parties they represent. No change in ownership, corporate, or partnership status of the Respondent shall in any way alter its status or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.


    11.    In the event that any terms of the Agreed Order are found to be invalid, the remaining terms shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreed Order did not contain the invalid terms.

    12.    The Respondent shall provide a copy of this Agreed Order, if in force, to any subsequent owners or successors before ownership rights are transferred. Respondent shall ensure that all contractors, firms and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with the terms of this Agreed Order.

    13.    This Agreed Order shall remain in effect for a period of two years after the Effective Date of this Agreed Order.

TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION:        RESPONDENT:
Department of Environmental Management         Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

By:     _________________________        By: _________________________
    David P. McIver, Air Section Chief
    Office of Enforcement            Printed: ______________________

Date: ________________________            Title: ________________________

                            Date: ________________________

COUNSEL FOR COMPLAINANT:            COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT:
Department of Environmental Management

By: _________________________            By: ________________________
Office of Legal Counsel                
Department of Environmental Management

Date: _______________________            Date: ______________________

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT THIS _____ DAY OF ____________________, 199___.

                            For the Commissioner:
            
                            Signed 4/28/98
                            ___________________________
                            David J. Hensel, Director
                            Office of Enforcement

Converted by Andrew Scriven