Two Buffalo, New York contractors were arrested Wednesday, May 5th and accused of illegally dumping more than five tons of asbestos-contaminated debris in an abandoned city warehouse.
A Buffalo area asbestos abatement contractor, and a demolition contractor, are charged with two felony counts that carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
“People who try to cut corners by illegally dumping harmful materials, like asbestos, endanger the public and hurt the environment,” New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo said.
Inhalation of asbestos fibers, even in low doses, can cause a variety of cancers including malignant mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung. Actions such as those allegedly taken by the two individuals in this criminal case endanger human health and violate scores of local, state and federal health regulations.
According to court papers, one of the men is charged with collecting thousands of pounds of asbestos-contaminated waste and storing it in containers at a warehouse. After being notified by the state Labor Department of an upcoming inspection, the man had the waste hauled to an abandoned building.
The asbestos reportedly remained hidden for more than a year, until it was discovered by the Labor Department’s asbestos regulators. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency cleaned the site at a cost of $137,400.
