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AG Charges Susquehanna County Business Owner With Illegal Sludge Dumping
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Agents from the Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Section Monday filed criminal charges against a Susquehanna County woman, her son and her business, after allegedly illegally dumping sludge on farm fields in New Milford Township and then manipulating records to indicate proper disposal.
Attorney General Linda Kelly identified the defendants as Betty Birch, 72, and David Birch, 51, both of 22878 State Route 11, Hallstead, Susquehanna County. Criminal charges were also filed against Hallstead Sanitary Services Inc., 22878 State Route 11, Hallstead.
Kelly said that Hallstead Sanitary Services, which is the sewage hauler for both residential septic and municipal sludge in Susquehanna County, is owned by Betty Birtch and her retired husband. Betty Birtch also serves as the corporation’s Secretary and Treasurer and manages the office and paperwork.
According to the criminal complaint, Hallstead Sanitary provided sludge destination reports to the Department of Environmental Protection indicated between Jan. 18, 2010 and March 21, 2011, the sludge was transported and disposed of at A&G Associates in Colesville, NY. A&G allegedly stopped accepting sludge disposals in 2006.
The charges state that instead of properly disposing of sludge David Birtch dumped the waste on farm fields owned by the family.
Kelly said that Betty Birtch allegedly submitted false reports to DEP indicating that sludge hauled from Hallstead Sanitation was disposed of at A&G Associates. Betty Birtch allegedly took hand written weight tickets turned in by drivers and typed up a bill along with a ticket indicating that the sludge was disposed of properly.
According to the criminal complaint, Betty Birtch was fully aware that the sludge was not being disposed of properly as required by law and fabricated the false reports to comply with DEP.
Kelly thanked the Department of Environmental Protection for their assistance in the investigation. The case will be prosecuted in Susquehanna County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Brian Coffey of the Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Section.
Below is a complete list of the defendants and the charges against them.
--Hallstead Sanitary Services Inc., 22878 State Route 11, Hallstead, Susquehanna County, is charged with one count of tampering with public records and one count of unlawful conduct.
--Betty Birtch, 72, 22878 State Route 11, Hallstead, Susquehanna County, is charged with one count of tampering with public records and one count of unlawful conduct.
--David Birtch, 51, 22878 State Route 11, Hallstead, Susquehanna County, is charged with one count of unlawful conduct.
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5/7/2012 |
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