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FISCAL YEAR: 2011
1. PRINCIPAL DEFENDANT: Arthur David (Dave) Sugar
S.D. Ohio 2:11-CR-50
S.D. Ohio 2:11-CR-50
2. DEFENDANT: Daniel A. Burnette
S.D. Ohio 2:09-CR-284
S.D. Ohio 2:09-CR-284
3. DEFENDANT: Honey Creek Contracting Company, Inc.
S.D. Ohio 2:11-CR-50
S.D. Ohio 2:11-CR-50
Dave Sugar owned and operated Honey Creek, a construction company located in Petersburg, Ohio. In 2004 Sugar purchased the former Weirton Steel Plant (WSP), in Steubenville, Ohio, for the purpose of renovating the facility.
Prior to the renovation, the WSP contained approximately 30,000 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation, and in one room commonly referred to as the Green Room, there were 5,992 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation. Sugar and his company were aware of the existing asbestos when they acquired the WSP facility. In late 2004/early 2005 asbestos containing materials was removed in violation of NESHAPs work practice standards by employees of Dave Sugar Excavating (DSE)/Honey Creek Contracting (HCC) during renovation activities conducted at the former Weirton Steel Plant (WSP). This activity occurred at the direction of Dave Sugar, Owner, DSE/HCC, and Daniel Burnette, Supervisor, DSE/HCC.
Prior to the renovation, the WSP contained approximately 30,000 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation, and in one room commonly referred to as the Green Room, there were 5,992 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation. Sugar and his company were aware of the existing asbestos when they acquired the WSP facility. In late 2004/early 2005 asbestos containing materials was removed in violation of NESHAPs work practice standards by employees of Dave Sugar Excavating (DSE)/Honey Creek Contracting (HCC) during renovation activities conducted at the former Weirton Steel Plant (WSP). This activity occurred at the direction of Dave Sugar, Owner, DSE/HCC, and Daniel Burnette, Supervisor, DSE/HCC.
December 3, 2009
Burnette was charged with Clean Air Act (CAA) violations {42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(1) - knowingly violates} and conspiracy, a violation of 18 U.S.C. 371.
CITATION: 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(1), 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(4)
January 29, 2010
Burnette pled guilty to one count of Conspiracy and three counts of violating the Clean Air Act.
Burnette was sentenced to 36 months probation.
March 7, 2011
The defendants were charged with 1 count of conspiracy, a violation of 18 U.S.C. 371; and 4 counts of violating the CAA {42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(1) - knowingly violates}.
April 21, 2011
The defendants pled guilty to one count of conspiracy and four counts of violating the Clean Air Act rules related to the proper removal and handling of asbestos.
Southern District of Ohio
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2011 BUSINESS OWNER AND COMPANY PLEAD GUILTY TO ASBESTOS VIOLATIONS COLUMBUS – A. David Sugar, 62, of New Middletown, and his construction company, Honey Creek Contracting Company, pleaded guilty in United States District Court to one count of conspiracy and four counts of violating the Clean Air Act rules related to the proper removal and handling of asbestos. Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Randall K. Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Scott J. Nally, Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, announced the pleas entered today before U.S. District Court Judge Gregory L. Frost. Sugar owned and operated Honey Creek, a construction company located in Petersburg, Ohio. In 2004 Sugar purchased the former Weirton Steel Plant (“WSP”), in Steubenville, Ohio, for the purpose of renovating the facility. Prior to the renovation, the WSP contained approximately 30,000 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation, and in one room commonly referred to as the Green Room, there were 5,992 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation. Sugar and Honey Creek pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the asbestos requirements established under the Clean Air Act (“asbestos NESHAPs”). In particular, the conspiracy was accomplished by failing to remove the asbestos in the Green Room before renovation activities began, and failure to follow the work practice standards specified in the asbestos NESHAP. Sugar and Honey Creek also pleaded guilty to violating the asbestos NESHAP by failing to notify the proper authorities prior to the start of the renovation. Sugar also admitted to directing the renovation of the Green Room before the asbestos was removed, which resulted in the breaking up, dislodging, and disturbing friable asbestos. Sugar also pleaded guilty to directing several employees to violate the work practice provisions of the asbestos NESHAP (i.e., failure to carefully lower and failure to maintain the asbestos wet until collected for disposal). The plea agreement contains a recommended sentence of a $30,000 fine against the company and a requirement that the company pay for baseline X-rays for employees involved. The company would also serve three years on probation. The plea agreement calls for Sugar to serve a sentence of 36 months of probation which will include spending the first 15 weekends in jail followed by 21 weeks of home confinement with electronic monitoring. Judge Frost will set a date for sentencing and determine whether or not to accept the terms of the plea agreement following a pre-sentence investigation by the court. “Exposure to asbestos can be fatal and the government will not tolerate illegal activity which puts the public at risk,” said Randall K. Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. “The defendants admitted to illegally handling and storing materials containing asbestos. It is fitting that, as part of the sentence, they will pay for medical tests for workers who were exposed to asbestos as a result of their crimes. The message in this case is clear. Those who endanger human health and the environment will be vigorously prosecuted.” Asbestos is designated by the CAA as a hazardous air pollutant. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can cause life-threatening diseases, including asbestosis, cancer, and mesothelioma. Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by federal and state law enforcement agencies who investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney J. Michael Marous, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad J. Beeson with the United States Environmental Protection Agency who prosecuted the case.
Southern District of Ohio
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2011 BUSINESS OWNER AND COMPANY PLEAD GUILTY TO ASBESTOS VIOLATIONS COLUMBUS – A. David Sugar, 62, of New Middletown, and his construction company, Honey Creek Contracting Company, pleaded guilty in United States District Court to one count of conspiracy and four counts of violating the Clean Air Act rules related to the proper removal and handling of asbestos. Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Randall K. Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Scott J. Nally, Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, announced the pleas entered today before U.S. District Court Judge Gregory L. Frost. Sugar owned and operated Honey Creek, a construction company located in Petersburg, Ohio. In 2004 Sugar purchased the former Weirton Steel Plant (“WSP”), in Steubenville, Ohio, for the purpose of renovating the facility. Prior to the renovation, the WSP contained approximately 30,000 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation, and in one room commonly referred to as the Green Room, there were 5,992 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation. Sugar and Honey Creek pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the asbestos requirements established under the Clean Air Act (“asbestos NESHAPs”). In particular, the conspiracy was accomplished by failing to remove the asbestos in the Green Room before renovation activities began, and failure to follow the work practice standards specified in the asbestos NESHAP. Sugar and Honey Creek also pleaded guilty to violating the asbestos NESHAP by failing to notify the proper authorities prior to the start of the renovation. Sugar also admitted to directing the renovation of the Green Room before the asbestos was removed, which resulted in the breaking up, dislodging, and disturbing friable asbestos. Sugar also pleaded guilty to directing several employees to violate the work practice provisions of the asbestos NESHAP (i.e., failure to carefully lower and failure to maintain the asbestos wet until collected for disposal). The plea agreement contains a recommended sentence of a $30,000 fine against the company and a requirement that the company pay for baseline X-rays for employees involved. The company would also serve three years on probation. The plea agreement calls for Sugar to serve a sentence of 36 months of probation which will include spending the first 15 weekends in jail followed by 21 weeks of home confinement with electronic monitoring. Judge Frost will set a date for sentencing and determine whether or not to accept the terms of the plea agreement following a pre-sentence investigation by the court. “Exposure to asbestos can be fatal and the government will not tolerate illegal activity which puts the public at risk,” said Randall K. Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. “The defendants admitted to illegally handling and storing materials containing asbestos. It is fitting that, as part of the sentence, they will pay for medical tests for workers who were exposed to asbestos as a result of their crimes. The message in this case is clear. Those who endanger human health and the environment will be vigorously prosecuted.” Asbestos is designated by the CAA as a hazardous air pollutant. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos can cause life-threatening diseases, including asbestosis, cancer, and mesothelioma. Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by federal and state law enforcement agencies who investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney J. Michael Marous, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad J. Beeson with the United States Environmental Protection Agency who prosecuted the case.
August 23, 2011
Dave Sugar was sentenced to 8 months and 8 days incarceration, 36 months probation and was ordered to pay a $10,000 federal fine.
Honey Creek was sentenced to 36 months probation, ordered to pay $1,850 in restitution to pay for chest x-rays for individuals that worked at the site and a $30,000 federal fine.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 23, 2011 BUSINESS OWNER AND COMPANY SENTENCED FOR ASBESTOS VIOLATIONS COLUMBUS – A. David Sugar, 62, of New Middletown, and his construction company, Honey Creek Contracting Company, were sentenced in United States District Court today for violating the Clean Air Act rules related to the proper removal and handling of asbestos. Mr. Sugar was sentenced to serve a sentence of 36 months of probation which will include spending the first 15 weekends in jail followed by 21 weeks of home confinement with electronic monitoring. In addition, Mr. Sugar was fined $10,000. Honey Creek was fined $30,000 and ordered to pay for baseline X-rays for Honey Creek employees involved in the illegal asbestos removal. Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Randall K. Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Scott J. Nally, Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, announced the sentences imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Gregory L. Frost. Sugar owned and operated Honey Creek, a construction company located in Petersburg, Ohio. In 2004 Sugar purchased the former Weirton Steel Plant (“WSP”), in Steubenville, Ohio, for the purpose of renovating the facility. Prior to the renovation, the WSP contained approximately 30,000 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation, and in one room commonly referred to as the Green Room, there were 5,992 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation. Sugar and his company were aware of the existing asbestos when they acquired the WSP facility. Previously, on April 21, 2011, Sugar and Honey Creek pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the asbestos requirements established under the Clean Air Act (“asbestos NESHAPs”) and four counts of asbestos NESHAP violations. In particular, the asbestos NESHAP violations concerned the failure to notify the proper authorities prior at the start of work at the WSP, the damaging of friable asbestos at the WSP, and the failure to follow the proper work practice provisions of the asbestos NESHAP at the WSP. “This sentence sends the message that the illegal removal of asbestos will be punished,” said Randall K. Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. “It is significant that as part of the sentence Honey Creek will pay for medical tests for workers who were exposed to asbestos as a result of this crime.” Asbestos is designated by the Clean Air Act as a hazardous air pollutant. Studies have shown that even limited exposure to asbestos can cause life-threatening diseases, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other cancers. Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by federal and state law enforcement agencies who investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney J. Michael Marous, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad J. Beeson with the United States Environmental Protection Agency who prosecuted the case.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 23, 2011 BUSINESS OWNER AND COMPANY SENTENCED FOR ASBESTOS VIOLATIONS COLUMBUS – A. David Sugar, 62, of New Middletown, and his construction company, Honey Creek Contracting Company, were sentenced in United States District Court today for violating the Clean Air Act rules related to the proper removal and handling of asbestos. Mr. Sugar was sentenced to serve a sentence of 36 months of probation which will include spending the first 15 weekends in jail followed by 21 weeks of home confinement with electronic monitoring. In addition, Mr. Sugar was fined $10,000. Honey Creek was fined $30,000 and ordered to pay for baseline X-rays for Honey Creek employees involved in the illegal asbestos removal. Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Randall K. Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Scott J. Nally, Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, announced the sentences imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Gregory L. Frost. Sugar owned and operated Honey Creek, a construction company located in Petersburg, Ohio. In 2004 Sugar purchased the former Weirton Steel Plant (“WSP”), in Steubenville, Ohio, for the purpose of renovating the facility. Prior to the renovation, the WSP contained approximately 30,000 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation, and in one room commonly referred to as the Green Room, there were 5,992 linear feet of asbestos pipe insulation. Sugar and his company were aware of the existing asbestos when they acquired the WSP facility. Previously, on April 21, 2011, Sugar and Honey Creek pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the asbestos requirements established under the Clean Air Act (“asbestos NESHAPs”) and four counts of asbestos NESHAP violations. In particular, the asbestos NESHAP violations concerned the failure to notify the proper authorities prior at the start of work at the WSP, the damaging of friable asbestos at the WSP, and the failure to follow the proper work practice provisions of the asbestos NESHAP at the WSP. “This sentence sends the message that the illegal removal of asbestos will be punished,” said Randall K. Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. “It is significant that as part of the sentence Honey Creek will pay for medical tests for workers who were exposed to asbestos as a result of this crime.” Asbestos is designated by the Clean Air Act as a hazardous air pollutant. Studies have shown that even limited exposure to asbestos can cause life-threatening diseases, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other cancers. Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by federal and state law enforcement agencies who investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney J. Michael Marous, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad J. Beeson with the United States Environmental Protection Agency who prosecuted the case.
STATUTE:
- Clean Air Act (CAA)
- Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code (TITLE 18)