Grand Island, NY – Sean Doctor, owner of S.D. Specialty Services, LLC, was sentenced in November 2017 to a $2,000 fine and 12 months probation after pleading guilty to a false statement violation of the Clean Air Act. The case, stemming from asbestos abatement work performed in Buffalo, NY, revealed a deliberate attempt to falsify records related to hazardous material disposal, raising concerns about public health and environmental safety.
The investigation, conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), centered around asbestos removal at the Roosevelt Park Shelter in Buffalo, beginning in December 2009. S.D. Specialty Services was contracted to perform the abatement, a process heavily regulated under the Clean Air Act due to the serious health risks posed by asbestos exposure. Federal regulations mandate meticulous record-keeping, specifically through waste shipment manifests, to track the removal, transportation, and final disposal of asbestos-containing materials.
According to court documents, Doctor and his company knowingly submitted a false asbestos waste manifest on March 11, 2010. This manifest claimed asbestos from the Roosevelt Park Shelter was transported to Comprehensive Employee Management (CEM) on that date. However, the EPA determined the material had, in fact, been delivered to CEM’s Grand Island location *prior* to the date listed on the manifest. This falsification became part of official documentation submitted to waste disposal authorities, effectively obscuring the true timeline of hazardous material handling.
Illegal Dumping & Cover-Up
The scheme didn’t end with the falsified manifest. An April 2011 inspection of the Roosevelt Park Shelter revealed that S.D. Specialty Services employees had improperly left asbestos-containing materials behind, further compounding the violations. This suggests a pattern of negligence and potential disregard for established safety protocols.
Collusion & Corporate Penalties
The investigation broadened to include CEM and its owner, Raj Chopra. In March 2018, CEM was convicted of making a false statement under the Clean Air Act and sentenced to a $25,000 fine and 12 months of probation. Chopra was convicted of being an accessory after the fact to the false statement and received a 12-month probationary sentence. Authorities suggest CEM knowingly accepted and stored the improperly documented asbestos, facilitating Doctor’s attempt to mislead regulators.
Legal Ramifications
Doctor’s conviction centered on violations of 42 U.S.C. 7412 (False Statements under the Clean Air Act), 18 U.S.C. 3 (False Statements), and 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(2)(A), pertaining to regulations surrounding asbestos waste management. The case highlights the EPA’s commitment to aggressively pursuing criminal enforcement against those who endanger public health by violating environmental laws. The falsification of documents not only hinders regulatory oversight but also jeopardizes the safety of workers and the surrounding community.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Sean Doctor, S.D. Specialty Services, LLC
- Location: Buffalo & Grand Island, New York
- Crime: False Statement under the Clean Air Act, Improper Asbestos Handling
- Year: 2018 (investigation spanned 2009-2018)
- Penalties: Doctor – $2,000 fine, 12 months probation; CEM – $25,000 fine, 12 months probation; Chopra – 12 months probation
- Statutes Violated: 42 U.S.C. 7412, 18 U.S.C. 3, 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(2)(A)
- Improperly disposed of asbestos was found at the Roosevelt Park Shelter after abatement.
The GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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