The city of Buffalo, New York has angered many of its residents by implementing a $1,000 “asbestos notification fee,” which must be paid by city residents who locate asbestos that will need to undergo abatement. According to city officials, the state does “virtually nothing” to warrant the high fee.

Buffalo Chief of Inspections James Comerford said that the funds lost by paying the notification fee limits the number of contaminated and dangerous structures that the city can demolish. It has reportedly been difficult to conduct business at demolition sites, Comerford says, because people oppose the asbestos notification fee.

Senator William Stachowski from Buffalo, who is the new Chairman of the Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee, has plans to introduce legislation that would do away with or, at the very least, reduce the high fee associated with the asbestos notification. By law, individuals are required to notify the state prior to removing any asbestos-containing materials, as asbestos exposure has long been associated with the development of many diseases, including asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer.

Buffalo is one of the nation’s poorest cities, and has a number of old, dangerous buildings that present a serious hazard to the community. The asbestos notification fee prevents the city from demolishing more of these properties, which only continue to present a health and safety hazard to Buffalo residents. Currently, 7,000 buildings need to be torn down, and city officials say they are unable to do so because they cannot afford the $7 million dollars in fees.

Officials say the question now is whether or not to find a way to pay the fees and tear down all of the buildings in order to protect the health and safety of citizens.

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