Investigations

On April 4, 2019, Paul Potter, owner of Chelsea Environmental, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, Alexandria, Virginia, to failing to comply with worker accreditation requirements in the Toxic Substances Control Act. He was charged via information on March 22, 2019.

 

DOT-OIG’s investigation revealed that between October 1, 2013, and March 31, 2014, Potter knowingly failed to comply with Federal regulations related to handling friable asbestos-containing materials in a commercial building. Specifically, Potter did not hire accredited asbestos workers and did not have a trained supervisor present at the worksite at all times.

 

DOT-OIG became involved in this investigation after agents from the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID) suspected that Chelsea Environmental was illegally transporting friable asbestos, which is a hazardous material.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with EPA-CID.