Deutsche Bank contractor also charged with illegal asbestos removal at SUNY New Paltz

Oct 20, 2009

Two men from Milestone Environmental Corp. of New Jersey – Salvatore R. DePaola and Steevens Espitia Oliveros – are facing federal charges of illegal removal and disposal of asbestos at several dormitories at the State University of New York at New Paltz. DePaola was also charged in connection with the Deutsche Bank fire in New York City.

The New York Department of Labor discovered the initial asbestos violations when work began at SUNY New Paltz after the spring semester, and Milestone Environmental was fired when subsequent violations were discovered. Another contractor was hired to complete the work.

Oliveros was the asbestos supervisor for Milestone on the project, and DePaola was a senior asbestos advisor. The accusations stated that DePaola was overheard telling his Milestone employees that they had to do things properly while the Department of Labor was around, but that they would go back to doing things their way the following day.

A senior industrial hygienist from the Department of Labor observed a number of Clean Air Act violations during his inspection on June 3. Violations included leaving asbestos debris on the floor and failing to place it in labeled, leak-tight containers. Two days earlier, one of Milestone’s employees had been observed stripping dry asbestos at one of the dormitories, though he didn’t hold a current state asbestos license. Subsequent reports detailed how Milestone workers failed to dampen asbestos until it could be properly contained. If asbestos is not kept wet while it is being removed, toxic asbestos fibers can become airborne. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can lead to serious illnesses like asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare but serious form of cancer that attacks the lining surrounding the lungs and other organs.

For the full story, go to Poughkeepsie Journal.

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