June 19th, 2006
An investigation has started into the possible illegal removal of asbestos from a building in downtown Kansas. The 14 story University Tower on the northeast side of downtown was searched by criminal investigators who are trying to determine whether the owner of the building removed asbestos, a known carcinogenic, illegally.
Reports stated that investigators had ‘probable cause’ to believe that the developer and owner of the building, Matthew Abbot, had violated the Clean Air Act through the illegal removal of asbestos in the apartment complex.
According to reports, Abbot told investigators that his brother and a roommate helped to remove a ceiling on the twelfth floor of the building, and he is said to have shown investigators debris and dust from the removal of the ceiling.
Abbot later told newspapers that he was surprised that a search warrant had been required, as he claims to have been cooperating with the EPA investigators and officials prior to the issue of the warrant.
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