The contractor in charge of asbestos removal for the former Agway building in DeWitt, NY has pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to violate the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act and Superfund law for his role in the improper disposal of asbestos at that site.

The Syracuse Post-Standard notes that Everett Blatche, age 44, faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for allowing asbestos fibers to “drain into public sewers, contaminate construction debris and collect in public spaces outside the building.”

Blatche “is willing to cooperate,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Benedict said. “We will see where that leads.” He noted that others connected to the project may be charged at a later date.

Workers “released lots and lots of asbestos outside without telling anybody about it,” Benedict said. “Mr. Blatche was aware that what he was doing was highly improper, but he continued to do it and instructed others to do it.”

Everett Blatche declined to comment. “I think he just wants to put it behind him,” defense lawyer Lisa Peebles said. “He’s looking forward to getting on with his life.”

Currently, asbestos is still being removed from the building but with the added presence of an independent consultant who is monitoring the work and reporting directly to the building’s owners. Labor officials also have imposed strict oversight on the project, the article points out.

The building is being converted into office space and was scheduled to open on April 1st. A spokesman for the contractor says the date will most likely be pushed back to sometime around the end of the summer.

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