DEC: City of Norwich DPW illegally moved 10 tons of raw sewage with street sweeper
NORWICH – Former Norwich Assistant Superintendent of Public Works George Carnrike Jr., has been charged with several offenses for ordering DPW staff to illegally transport and dump thousands of pounds of raw sewage using the city's street sweeper at unauthorized locations also operated by the city.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in at least three reported instances the street sweeper, which is not designed or permitted to move raw sewage, spilled hazardous materials into the environment during transport.
Carnrike is scheduled to appear in Norwich City Court at 9 a.m. February 24. The court's clerk said the appearance would be to either accept a possible plea deal or have a trial date scheduled. Carnrike has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The DEC interviewed a number of DPW workers during the investigation but only Carnrike has been charge with any crimes.
City officials contacted Friday said no disciplinary actions have been taken against any DPW employees involved with the alleged incidents. The charges filed by the DEC claim employees were ordered to carry out the illegal activities by Carnrike.
City officials were unsure if the alleged activities created any public health risks and referred assessments and comments about public health to the DEC. No public information about Carnrike's arrest or the reported activities has been released to the public by the city.
The case is being handled by Oneida City Judge Michael J. Misiaszek and prosecuted by the Otsego County District Attorney's Office, after local officials recused themselves from the case.
Carnrike was acting head of the public works department while the city operated without a superintendent. He was placed on leave and then forced to resign in Sept. 2018 over an unrelated issue.
According to the DEC sometime between spring and fall of 2017 and then in June of 2018, Carnrike ordered DPW employees, Nicholas Campbell, William Kirkland and Joshua Doyle, to transport more than 25,000 pounds of raw sewage using the street sweeper.
The charges also state the sewage was allegedly deposed of illegally at a City of Norwich facility or property, that Carnrike was supposed to be overseeing.
One of the accusations filed with the city court read as follow: “The collection, transportation, and disposal of said wastes was unlawful and unpermitted, and the disposal of said wastes was not indicated by [Carnrike] on the attached 'Annual Report Destination Facility Information,' report submitted by the defendant for the reporting period of January 1 to December 31, 2017.”
“Further [Carnrike] provided a written instrument signed by the defendant and dated February 6, 2018 where the defendant stated, 'I certify, under penalty of law, that the data and other information identified in this report have been prepared under my direction and supervision in compliance with the system designed to ensure that qualified personnel properly and accurately gather and evaluate this information. I am aware that any false statements I make in such a report is punishable pursuant to section 210.45 of the penal law,” stated the court documents.
Carnrike is also accused of ordering another DPW employee, Tyler Callahan, to illegally dump toxic chemicals into the the drains near Kurt-Beyer Pool.
Carnrike “did command Callahan Tyler, a subordinate of said defendant, to dispose of approximately 2.5 gallons of muriatic acid, a hazardous waste... ...into the sanitary sewer drain located at Kurt-Beyer Pool. Disposal of muriatic acid in such a manner described is not authorized, and also a violation of City of Norwich Sewer Use Law, section 456-63(b)(4), a class a misdemeanor,” read the charges.
Many other charges Carnrike is facing accuse him of trying to mislead state officials by intentionally submitting falsified documents on behalf of the city to cover the alleged incidents up.
He is charged with making a punishable false written statement, second degree unlawful dealing with hazardous wastes and second degree offering a false instrument for filing, all misdemeanors.
He is also charged with three counts of unlawful delivery of regulated waste except at authorized facility; three counts of failure to properly contain regulated waste during transport so as to prevent discharge to environment; three counts of operating a facility in violation of regulations; three counts of allowing management of waste on land under their control in violation of regulation; three counts of unlawful transport of regulated waste without a permit and three counts of unlawful disposal of waste except at authorized facility, all violations.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in at least three reported instances the street sweeper, which is not designed or permitted to move raw sewage, spilled hazardous materials into the environment during transport.
Carnrike is scheduled to appear in Norwich City Court at 9 a.m. February 24. The court's clerk said the appearance would be to either accept a possible plea deal or have a trial date scheduled. Carnrike has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The DEC interviewed a number of DPW workers during the investigation but only Carnrike has been charge with any crimes.
City officials contacted Friday said no disciplinary actions have been taken against any DPW employees involved with the alleged incidents. The charges filed by the DEC claim employees were ordered to carry out the illegal activities by Carnrike.
City officials were unsure if the alleged activities created any public health risks and referred assessments and comments about public health to the DEC. No public information about Carnrike's arrest or the reported activities has been released to the public by the city.
The case is being handled by Oneida City Judge Michael J. Misiaszek and prosecuted by the Otsego County District Attorney's Office, after local officials recused themselves from the case.
Carnrike was acting head of the public works department while the city operated without a superintendent. He was placed on leave and then forced to resign in Sept. 2018 over an unrelated issue.
According to the DEC sometime between spring and fall of 2017 and then in June of 2018, Carnrike ordered DPW employees, Nicholas Campbell, William Kirkland and Joshua Doyle, to transport more than 25,000 pounds of raw sewage using the street sweeper.
The charges also state the sewage was allegedly deposed of illegally at a City of Norwich facility or property, that Carnrike was supposed to be overseeing.
One of the accusations filed with the city court read as follow: “The collection, transportation, and disposal of said wastes was unlawful and unpermitted, and the disposal of said wastes was not indicated by [Carnrike] on the attached 'Annual Report Destination Facility Information,' report submitted by the defendant for the reporting period of January 1 to December 31, 2017.”
“Further [Carnrike] provided a written instrument signed by the defendant and dated February 6, 2018 where the defendant stated, 'I certify, under penalty of law, that the data and other information identified in this report have been prepared under my direction and supervision in compliance with the system designed to ensure that qualified personnel properly and accurately gather and evaluate this information. I am aware that any false statements I make in such a report is punishable pursuant to section 210.45 of the penal law,” stated the court documents.
Carnrike is also accused of ordering another DPW employee, Tyler Callahan, to illegally dump toxic chemicals into the the drains near Kurt-Beyer Pool.
Carnrike “did command Callahan Tyler, a subordinate of said defendant, to dispose of approximately 2.5 gallons of muriatic acid, a hazardous waste... ...into the sanitary sewer drain located at Kurt-Beyer Pool. Disposal of muriatic acid in such a manner described is not authorized, and also a violation of City of Norwich Sewer Use Law, section 456-63(b)(4), a class a misdemeanor,” read the charges.
Many other charges Carnrike is facing accuse him of trying to mislead state officials by intentionally submitting falsified documents on behalf of the city to cover the alleged incidents up.
He is charged with making a punishable false written statement, second degree unlawful dealing with hazardous wastes and second degree offering a false instrument for filing, all misdemeanors.
He is also charged with three counts of unlawful delivery of regulated waste except at authorized facility; three counts of failure to properly contain regulated waste during transport so as to prevent discharge to environment; three counts of operating a facility in violation of regulations; three counts of allowing management of waste on land under their control in violation of regulation; three counts of unlawful transport of regulated waste without a permit and three counts of unlawful disposal of waste except at authorized facility, all violations.
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