Review of court documents indicates that asbestos removal company facing criminal charges did not work on SU campus

Review of court documents indicates that asbestos removal company facing criminal charges did not work on SU campusJanuary 06, 2004Kevin Morrowkdmorrow@syr.edu

Recent local media reports have referred to 10 asbestos projects at Syracuse University allegedly conducted by AAR Contractor Inc. of Latham, N.Y., whose owners are facing criminal prosecution in U.S. District Court in Syracuse on charges related to the management and work practices of their asbestos removal company.

After reviewing documents obtained from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, University officials have concluded that the 10 projects cited did not involve any academic, administrative or residential facilities on campus. These documents refer to projects that appear to be related to the 1991-92 construction of the cogeneration plant owned and operated by Project Orange Associates (POA). The cogeneration construction project also involved work at the SU Steam Station.

The University has forwarded the documents to POA and has asked POA representatives to further identify the projects.

POA is an independent company operating a cogeneration plant on East Taylor Street in Syracuse that produces commercial electricity and steam. Under terms of a series of agreements signed in 1991, POA leases from SU the land on which the cogeneration plant was built; sells steam produced by the cogeneration plant; and operates the SU Steam Station, which is adjacent to the cogeneration plant and serves as a backup steam source.