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PA ILLEGAL REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF ASBESTOS

Release Date: 07/12/96
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PA ILLEGAL REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF ASBESTOS

FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1996

ILLEGAL REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF ASBESTOS LEADS TO MULTI-COUNT INDICTMENT FOR WASHINGTON STATE COMPANY AND TWO EMPLOYEES

On July 20, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against the Odom Corp., a Seattle wholesale beverage distributor; Robert Sacco, Odom's former operations manager; and Michael Dempsey, Odom's former warehouse manager for illegally removing and disposing of an asbestos wall covering from the company warehouse in Seattle. The defendants were each charged with one count of failing to properly remove the asbestos, one count of failing to dispose of it properly and one count of failing to notify authorities of the intent to remove asbestos so that government inspectors could oversee the activity. Odom Corp. faces a maximum fine of $500,000 per count. Sacco and Dempsey may receive a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and/or a fine not to exceed $250,000 on each count. The case was investigated by EPA's Criminal Investigation Division with cooperation from state and local authorities.

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