Little Silver Man Arrested
Local investigators and federal agents from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been focusing on building contractors and asbestos abatement agencies in New York since early last year. The concerted effort is being made to crackdown on dangerous handling, illegal dumping, and fraudulent abatement of the cancer causing mineral.
Dominick Mazza of Little Silver, is the latest businessman caught up in the potentially deadly fraud. He was arrested last month for the illegal dumping of thousands of tons (60 million pounds in total) of asbestos containing materials at his facility in Tinton Falls.
The Tinton Falls solid waste management facility was not properly equipped to handle asbestos containing materials yet it continued to take on such rubble knowingly. Federal regulations mandate licensing and proper handling and disposal of any materials suspected of containing asbestos because the known carcinogen can cause mesothelioma—and invariably deadly form of cancer. The disease strikes nearly 3,000 people in the U.S. every year but it is 100% preventable.
Asbestos containing materials were commonly used until the 1980s in new home construction, industrial settings, and home renovation and electrical projects. This was decades after the danger of such materials became common knowledge.
Mazza stands accused of dumping of tons of the carcinogen at an upstate New York farm containing wetlands—knowingly putting the general public and his employees at risk for developing cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis (scarring of the lungs.) The EPA has taken the stance that no amount of asbestos exposure can ever be considered safe. Mazza’s complete and utter neglect for health and human safety is appalling.
Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and Richard S. Hartunian, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York will be prosecuting Mazza.
Mazza pulled in three of his business partners on the deal and Julius DeSimone, of Rome, N.Y., Donald Torriero, of Wellington, FL, and Cross Nicastro III., of Frankfort, N.Y. were arrested as well.
The three schemed to take waste processed at Maza’s facility and dump it on Nicastro’s farm, bypassing all the checks and balances put in place to protect workers and the general public.
Many asbestos abatement and processing companies have been tempted to engage in similar activities due to the cost of handling hazardous materials. In order to save themselves money or pocket an extra buck, these unscrupulous people are willing to risk the lives of others and contaminate stretches of public and private land.
The federal indictment charges the three defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States, violations of the Clean Water Act and Superfund laws, as well as the commission of wire fraud.
If convicted, Mazza faces a maximum jail term of up to five years and fines in excess of $250,000.
This entry was posted on Sunday, July 10th, 2011 at 9:19 pm and is filed under Asbestos Removal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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