 Violation involved the removal of asbestos from the Alaska Pulp Corp. in Sitka, AK June 24, 2002
Hitchings was responsible for assuring that all asbestos containing material at the facility was properly removed in accordance with environmental rules and regulations. According to information released by the EPA Friday, during the removal Hitchings learned that slushy waste containing asbestos abatement waste was allowed to enter a drain system at the facility and flow directly into Silver Bay in violation of the Clean Water Act. The EPA said Hitchings concealed the violation and that discharging contaminated slurry into surface waters can be harmful to fish and other aquatic life. The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI with the assistance of the EPA Office of Air Quality, EPA's National Enforcement Investigations Center and the Alaska Department of Labor. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage.
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