Canajoharie, NY – Beech-Nut says it will not spend for the multimillion-dollar asbestos clean up at its former plant in Montgomery County, in spite of a federal order issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in April.
EPA workers recently sealed piles of asbestos-containing particles and the exterior walls of the plant. The sealant prevents asbestos fibers from being launched into the air and lasts around 6 months.
For 2 years before that, the stacks had been exposed at the site nearby downtown Canajoharie near Albany, New York. The state has passed various asbestos laws that control the manufacture, usage, and circulation of asbestos products. Still asbestos direct exposure can occur and ultimately result in mesothelioma cancer.
Local and county authorities estimate clean up and demolition has cost around $10 million up until now. Likewise, the last 2 owners did not pay regional real estate tax going back to 2013 for a total costs of over $1.7 million.
Business spokeswoman Kirsten Whipple said, “We concur the asbestos problem in Canajoharie ought to be solved, nevertheless Beech-Nut should not be purchased by the EPA to clean up a problem we didn’t create.
” According to the EPA, Beech-Nut knew the asbestos problem before selling the plant and home in 2012. Designer Todd Clifford bought it for $200,000, stripped it of all valuable scrap metal, and left asbestos particles piles in the open instead of developing it like he guaranteed.
In December of 2014, Clifford sold the 27-acre home to a service associate called Jeffrey Wendel. ” Beech-Nut has not owned the residential or commercial property given that 2013. In fact, the property has been sold twice considering that we owned it,” stated Whipple. “At the time Beech-Nut offered the home in 2013, we had abided by the environmental standards regarding asbestos-containing materials without producing health threats for staff members or the neighborhood.
” The EPA “shall make a decision regarding its reaction,” said company spokesman Elias Rodriguez. The county continues to choose if it will foreclose or take ownership of the plant and home.
