Asbestos Cleanup Ordered at Motel

PORT HUENEME — Owners of a 50-year-old motel who allegedly began remodeling their asbestos-laden ceiling without proper safeguards have been ordered to clean contaminated rooms and hire a licensed contractor to complete the job, authorities said.

Superior Court Judge William Peck issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday against Dorothy and Steve Smead, owners of the Surfside Motel at 615 E. Port Hueneme Road, Port Hueneme, after a complaint by the Ventura County district attorney’s office, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Mitch Disney.

The five-count complaint by the D. A.’s Consumer and Environmental Protection Division alleges that the Smeads violated several state and county health and safety codes when they remodeled the motel, built in the 1940s, releasing asbestos into rooms, the air and surrounding buildings.

Among other things, the Smeads did not act in good faith to determine if the building contained asbestos before the work was done, and they hired people to do the work who were not registered with the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Disney said.

The Smeads were not available for comment.

Under Peck’s order, the Smeads may not proceed with the remodeling project until they hire a contractor certified to remove asbestos and a certified industrial hygienist to clean rooms contaminated with asbestos.

They are also ordered to comply with all hazardous waste control laws.