In a location about 65 miles east of Syracuse, NY, as much as 60 tons of asbestos-contaminated materials were dumped in a farm field. John Deck of Norwood, N.J. pled guilty to this illegal act and admitted to using a phony state permit and several truckers to carry out this unsafe job.
This crime can have a penalty that includes a fine of up to $250,000 and up to five years in federal prison. Deck will be sentenced in the Utica U.S. District Court next January. The investigation is still continuing and he is also expected to pay some of the asbestos removal costs, which are anticipated to be in the millions of dollars.
Strict guidelines are explained by organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on how to properly, efficiently, and safely dispose of asbestos. These rules are for the safety of not only anyone directly involved with asbestos, but also the larger surrounding community that may be exposed.
