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Alaska Man, Company Pay Price For Asbestos Offenses

Jan. 30, 2001

Technic\r\nServices Inc. (TSI) and its owner were sentenced for illegally removing and\r\ndisposing of asbestos at the Alaska Pulp Mill in Sitka, Alaska.

EHS Today Staff

Earlier this month, Ricky Rushing and his company, Technic Services Inc. (TSI), were sentenced for illegally removing and disposing of asbestos at the Alaska Pulp Mill in Sitka, Alaska.

Rushing was sentenced to 57 months incarceration, ordered to pay a fine of $520,000 and serve three years probation.

He was previously convicted by a jury of violating the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), as well as for obstruction of justice.

TSI, which was convicted of violating the CAA and CWA, was sentenced to pay a fine of $600,000 and must serve five years probation.

During the illegal asbestos removal at the pulp mill, substantial amounts of asbestos-contaminated slurry was rinsed into floor drains emptying directly into Silver Bay.

Rushing also directed his employees to sign documents disavowing any knowledge of those practices.

Likewise, Rushing induced his employees to remove or otherwise tamper with their personal monitors that indicated asbestos exposure levels.

Improper asbestos removal practices can lead to inhalation of asbestos fibers, which can cause a lung disease known as "asbestosis," and mesothelioma, a cancer of the chest and abdominal cavities.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.