By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-860163.mp3
Utica, NY – A New Jersey man is facing a prison term stemming from his role in the illegal dumping of 60 tons of contaminated waste in a Central New York farm field. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
55-year old John Deck of Norwood, New Jersey pleaded guilty this week in Federal Court to charges of conspiracy and wire fraud in connection with the illegal dumping of asbestos-contaminated waste in an open farm field in Herkimer County adjacent to the Mohawk River. Asbestos has been determined to cause lung cancer and other diseases: the Environmental Protection Agency has determined that there is no safe level of exposure.
Deck was the sole owner and operator of J.A.D., Inc - the New Jersey corporation acted as a "truck broker," arranging for independently-owned, tractor-trailers to haul material destined for solid waste management facilities. In his guilty plea, Deck admitted obtaining a false and fraudulent DEC permit-drafted by other co-conspirators, who officials say remain under investigation. Court documents say Deck faxed the phony permit to multiple trucking companies who, between July and October 2006, hauled the contaminated waste from New Jersey and New York City to the former dairy farm at 3720 Southside Road, Frankfort. Federal prosecutors say Deck faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he's sentenced in U.S. District Court in Utica, next January.
The illegal landfill is now a federal Superfund site. Deck also must help pay some of the cleanup cost, which is expected to be in neighborhood of six million dollars. Assistant United States Attorney Craig Benedict did not return calls for comment in time for broadcast. Benedict is prosecuting the case along with Todd Gleason of the U.S. Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Section. The investigation is continuing.