Ohio Man Facing Charges for Dumping Asbestos

Recently, a man in Cleveland, Ohio was brought up on federal charges for violating the Clean Air Act in connection with asbestos pollution.

According to Cleveland.com, the alleged asbestos pollution took place from 2011 to 2012. That year, the man, who owned multiple garbage-hauling companies, leased a manufacturing plant that had closed, National Acme, which was reportedly close to a school and several homes.

Following his leasing of National Acme, thousands of tons of municipal garbage, cardboard waste and paper were dumped there, enough to fill up the facility by April 2012. Once the facility was full of garbage, the man bought the facility, with plans to demolish it.

A notice of demolition for the National Acme facility was submitted to Cleveland’s Division of Air Quality in July of 2012, which stated that it contained no asbestos. However, another company was on record as having estimated that removing the asbestos from National Acme would cost $1.5 million. The notice to demolish was rejected by the city.

Ignoring the city’s rejection of the demolition request, the man had National Acme demolished and according to the federal indictment levied against the man, during the demolition, asbestos debris and fibers were released into the environment, where they were “exposed to the wind and elements.”

Source:http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2014/10/cleveland_man_indicted_on_clea.html

“We will not allow our neighborhoods to be used as garbage dumps,” said a U.S. Attorney working on the case. “[This man’s] actions show his total disdain for the law and for the people who live near the factory. He will be held accountable for his actions.”

Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C.Louisiana Mesothelioma Attorneys