MARSHALL, TX – A Texas pipeline worker has been sentenced to over a year in federal prison for knowingly violating Clean Air Act regulations concerning asbestos removal, federal authorities announced. Rodney K. Beshears, 60, of Kennard, Texas, received a 12-month and one-day prison sentence on May 26, 2016, after pleading guilty in February of the same year.
The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division, along with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, details a pattern of negligent and illegal asbestos handling during pipeline excavation projects in northeast Texas between October 2011 and March 2012. Beshears directed his crew to remove thousands of feet of pipeline coated with asbestos near Diana and Ore City, Texas, without adhering to established safety protocols.
According to court documents, Beshears received specific training on asbestos removal practices in December 2011, following an initial inspection that identified the presence of asbestos on the pipeline. Despite this training – which covered proper handling procedures outlined in the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rules – Beshears disregarded the requirements. Investigators found that workers, under Beshears’ direction, used methods like hammering and dragging pipeline segments to remove the asbestos coating, creating significant airborne dust. Crucially, the material was not wetted down, a fundamental safety measure, and was disposed of at unapproved facilities.
Environmental and Legal Ramifications
The reckless removal methods employed by Beshears and his crew posed a significant health risk to workers and the surrounding community. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and exposure can lead to serious respiratory diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. The EPA emphasized the importance of adhering to environmental regulations designed to protect public health. “The health dangers associated with asbestos are well known and its safe removal must be handled according to the law,” stated Bill Stevens, Acting Assistant Agent-in-Charge of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division Dallas Area Office.
Beshears was originally indicted by a federal grand jury on September 3, 2014. The investigation revealed a deliberate disregard for both worker safety and environmental regulations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent prison sentence. In addition to the prison term, Beshears was ordered to pay $9,360 in restitution.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Rodney K. Beshears
- Crime: Violating Clean Air Act work practice standards related to asbestos removal
- State: Texas
- Year: 2016
- Statutes Violated: 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(1) – specifically, failing to follow NESHAP rules for asbestos handling.
- Penalty: 12 months and one day in federal prison, $9,360 restitution.
- Method of Violation: Directing workers to remove asbestos-coated pipeline using dangerous methods (hammering, dragging) without wetting or proper disposal.
This case serves as a stark reminder that intentional violations of environmental regulations, particularly those concerning hazardous materials like asbestos, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The EPA continues to prioritize enforcement actions to protect communities from the dangers of improper asbestos handling and disposal.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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