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PA CITY MANAGER INDICTED

Release Date: 04/11/97
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1997

CITY MANAGER INDICTED

Kenneth Wayne Hammer, City Manager of Aurora, Mo., was indicted on April 3, in U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., on four counts of violating the federal Clean Air Act and two counts of making false statements to federal investigators. The indictment charges that on Oct. 3, 1994, and Jan. 27, 1995, Hammer allegedly directed the removal of more than 160 square feet of asbestos containing material from Aurora’s City Hall without following federal workplace standards. Those standards require the notification of regulatory officials prior to the removal of asbestos and also require the wetting of asbestos-containing materials both during and after removal to prevent asbestos particles from becoming airborne. Inhalation of airborne asbestos can cause a lung disease known as “asbestosis” and is a known cause of lung cancer in people. If convicted, Hammer could be sentenced to a maximum of 24 years in prison and/or a maximum fine of up to $1.5 million. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division with the assistance of EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center.


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