December 13th, 2005

A thirty-year-old man has been indicted for illegal asbestos activity, according to an announcement made by the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York. James Taylor of West Winfield in New York was a former supervisor at an asbestos abatement company that is now defunct. Taylor worked at AVALA Contracting company Inc. when he is reported to have been involved in illegal asbestos related activity.

It is claimed that Taylor violated the Clean Air Act through illegal asbestos abatement activities. He has been indicted on seven charges of conspiracy and violations of the Clean Air Act. The illegal activities are said to have taken place at Richfield Springs Central School and the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, in Wanakena, NewYork.

The charges against Taylor allege that he failed to strip and bag friable asbestos, and that he also failed to dispose of it properly. Asbestos is a substance that is a known carcinogenic and is also capable of causing a number of serious and deadly health problems when it becomes airborne and contaminates the air.

Taylor has also been charged with falsifying air monitoring results. The thirty-year-old could face up to five years in jail as well as hefty fines for each count against him.