Phoenix, New York - Man pled guilty to a felony violation of the Clean Air Act.

Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, announced today that Edward Palmer, 47, of Phoenix, N.Y., pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Syracuse before the Honorable Frederick J. Scullin, to a felony violation of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7413(c). Palmer is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. in Syracuse. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Palmer is the owner of Carbonsted, LLC, a company that owns the former Nestles Plant, 555 Fourth Street, Fulton, NY. The plant contains pipes with more than two thousand of feet of friable asbestos insulation. Palmer engaged in asbestos renovation activities without filing a notification with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. He directed unlicenced individuals to perform asbestos removal without wetting the asbestos and keeping it wet, and without properly disposing of the asbestos at a state-approved landfill.

Asbestos exposure has been determined to cause various forms of cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma, a nearly always fatal disease. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Environmental Protection Agency, and N.Y. State Department of Environmental Conservation. Inspectors with the NYS Department of Labor also assisted. Prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Craig A. Benedict. Mr. Benedict may be contacted for questions regarding this case at 315-448-0672.