St. Petersburg, FL – Philip Farley, the owner of a 480-unit apartment complex in St. Petersburg, Florida, has been sentenced to probation, home confinement, community service, and hefty restitution payments after pleading guilty to a Clean Air Act (CAA) violation. The case, stemming from a reckless renovation project in 2010, exposed numerous workers to dangerous levels of asbestos, a known carcinogen.
Court documents reveal Farley purchased the complex in May 2010, with the purchase agreement acknowledging the presence of asbestos, specifically in vinyl floor tiles. While an older asbestos survey existed, it wasn’t located until 2011. Despite knowing the potential hazard, Farley directed his crew to begin renovations in the summer of 2010, instructing them to *dry-scrape* textured ceiling material – a highly dangerous practice when dealing with asbestos-containing materials. This method releases microscopic asbestos fibers into the air, posing a significant health risk.
The improperly handled asbestos waste was disposed of in a regular waste dumpster and transported to a county incinerator, further spreading the hazardous material. An anonymous tip in November 2010 prompted an inspection by Pinellas County officials, who confirmed the presence of asbestos in roughly two-thirds of the apartment units, many of which had already been aggressively scraped. The investigation quickly revealed Farley’s negligence in failing to implement proper asbestos abatement procedures, including worker training and protective equipment.
Foreman Previously Pleaded Guilty
Farley wasn’t the only one held accountable. Aurelijius Baltusis, Farley’s site foreman, previously pleaded guilty in October 2016 to a CAA negligent endangerment violation. Baltusis received a $4,000 fine and a three-year term of probation for his role in the hazardous renovation. The investigation, a collaborative effort between the Pinellas County Air Quality Division and the U.S. EPA Criminal Investigation Division, highlighted a systemic disregard for worker safety and environmental regulations.
Sentence Details & Restitution
On June 22, 2018, Farley received his sentence: an $8,000 fine, a four-year term of probation including three months of home confinement, 300 hours of community service, and a substantial $250,000 restitution payment. The restitution will be directed to the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health asbestos exposure surveillance fund, aimed at supporting research and care for individuals impacted by asbestos exposure.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Philip Farley
- Crime: Negligent endangerment through asbestos exposure, violating the Clean Air Act
- Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
- Year of Offense: 2010
- Statutes Violated: 42 U.S.C. 7413(c) – Clean Air Act
- Penalties: $8,000 fine, 4 years probation (3 months home confinement), 300 hours community service, $250,000 restitution
- Foreman: Aurelijius Baltusis previously pleaded guilty to a related CAA violation.
This case serves as a stark warning to contractors and property owners regarding the serious legal and health consequences of improperly handling asbestos. The EPA continues to prioritize enforcement of the Clean Air Act to protect workers and communities from the dangers of hazardous materials.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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