A.G. Sues "Buffalo Bill Estates" Near Camanche for Asbestos-handling Violations

The lawsuit alleges asbestos-handling violations and other environmental violations at a manufactured-home development operated by Mobile World, L.C., and R. Victor Hanks.

Clinton.   The Attorney General's Office filed an environmental lawsuit today in Clinton County District Court alleging asbestos-handling, wastewater, and solid waste violations by Mobile World, L.C., and R. Victor Hanks, who own and operate "Buffalo Bill Estates," a 150-lot manufactured home development near Camanche. Hanks lives in Moline, Illinois.

The lawsuit asks the court to order the defendants to pay $22,250 in penalties already ordered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources but unpaid by the defendants, to order additional civil penalties, and to issue a permanent injunction prohibiting further violations.

The suit alleges numerous and continuing violations, despite repeated orders by the DNR for the defendants to comply with regulations and pay administrative penalties:

Alleged asbestos-handling violations include failure to inspect, clean up and remove asbestos-containing material. Junk trailers were brought to the site and burned, leaving metal, ash, frames and debris that included asbestos in the burn pile. Asbestos particles in the air can pose serious health threats.

Alleged wastewater violations include that a sewage wastewater lagoon was discharging continuously, rather than being operated as a controlled-discharge lagoon with only periodic discharge; that the lagoon was poorly maintained; and that the facility failed to retain a certified operator and comply with other wastewater monitoring and reporting requirements. The lagoon discharges to an unnamed tributary of the Wapsipinicon River.

Alleged solid waste violations include that large quantities of construction debris, garbage, discarded appliances, and abandoned trailers have been dumped illegally at the site for several years.

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