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Seven
individuals has been charged in Nassau County for violating the New
York State Environmental Conservation Law. Working with the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), the Nassau
County district attorney’s office Environmental Crime Unit used
an undisclosed location in the county, which appeared to be an
unoccupied commercial property, to conduct an Environmental Sting
Operation.
According
to Nassau County DA Denis Dillon, "Investigators from my office and
from the NYS DEC called a number of landscapers who are not certified
by or registered with the NYS DEC to commercially apply pesticides.
These individuals were asked to treat weeds growing at the same
location. Of the 8 companies who came to the site to give our
undercovers estimates, five of those agreed to treat the property.
Seven individuals representing these five companies responded to our
request and illegally applied pesticides on the grounds. The subsequent
analysis of the substances sprayed on the ground showed them to be
chemicals regulated by the Environmental Conservation Law."
Dillon continued, "Each of these defendants during the course of
applying the chemicals failed to follow the pesticide statute and
regulations in that they did not place notification markers on the
property, warning neighbors that pesticides had been applied; failed to
give the pesticide warning label to the property owner, which describes
the potentially toxic chemicals contained in the pesticide; and also
failed to train their workers on how to safely handle these chemicals."
"In
addition, investigators placed on the site 55 gallon drums, which were
labeled describing them as containing hazardous waste," said Dillon.
"One defendant charged today, Silder M. Urias, a.k.a. Mike, 48, of 271
Sheridan Street, Westbury, agreed to remove these barrels from the site
and did so without obtaining the required permits for a price of
$1,000."
The following individuals have been charged:
John
Zarato, 41, of 417 Scranton Avenue, Lynbrook; Commercial Application of
Pesticides Without Having a Valid Pesticide Applicator Certification,
Operating an Unregistered Pesticide Applicator Business, Failure to
have a Written Contract for Applying Pesticides, and Failure to Place
Pesticide Warning Markers, all Violations of the Environmental
Conservation Law.
Percio
Rodriguez, 31, of 65 Malta Street #2, Copaigue; Commercial Application
of Pesticides Without Having a Valid Pesticide Applicator
Certification, Operating an Unregistered Pesticide Applicator Business,
Failure to have a Written Contract for Applying Pesticides, and Failure
to Place Pesticide Warning Markers, all Violations of the Environmental
Conservation Law.
Francisco
Rodriguez, 61, of 302 Jefferson Avenue, Amityville; Commercial
Application of Pesticides Without Having a Valid Pesticide Applicator
Certification, Operating an Unregistered Pesticide Applicator Business,
Failure to have a Written Contract for Applying Pesticides, and Failure
to Place Pesticide Warning Markers, all Violations of the Environmental
Conservation Law.
Silder
Urias, 48, of 271 Sheridan Street, Westbury.
As it relates to the removal of the 55 gallon drums of toxic waste,
Urias is charged with Attempted Unlawful Dealing in Hazardous Waste in
the First Degree, and Attempted Endangering Public Health, Safety or
the Environment in the Third Degree, both Class A misdemeanors under
the Environmental Conservation Law. In addition, Urias is charged with
Commercial Application of Pesticides Without Having a Valid Pesticide
Applicator Certification, Operating an Unregistered Pesticide
Applicator Business, Failure to have a Written Contract for Applying
Pesticides, and Failure to Place Pesticide Warning Markers, all
Violations of the Environmental Conservation Law.
Rayner
Taveras, 24, of 6 South Park Avenue, Rockville Centre; Commercial
Application of Pesticides Without Having a Valid Pesticide Applicator
Certification, Operating an Unregistered Pesticide Applicator Business,
Failure to have a Written Contract for Applying Pesticides, and Failure
to Place Pesticide Warning Markers, all Violations of the Environmental
Conservation Law.
Manuel
Taveras, 33, of 10 E Mineola Avenue, Valley Stream; Commercial
Application of Pesticides Without Having a Valid Pesticide Applicator
Certification, Operating an Unregistered Pesticide Applicator Business,
Failure to have a Written Contract for Applying Pesticides, and Failure
to Place Pesticide Warning Markers, all Violations of the Environmental
Conservation Law.
Marcos
Taveras, 37, of 54 Grand Avenue, Freeport; Commercial Application of
Pesticides Without Having a Valid Pesticide Applicator Certification, a
Violation of the Environmental Conservation Law 9-22-05
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