NEWPORT – Agents from the Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Section have filed criminal charges against three Perry County men and their family-operated business for allegedly dumping and burning demolition, construction and household waste generated by their business.
Attorney General Tom Corbett identified the defendants as Frederick Thebes, 66, New Bloomfield; Douglas A. Thebes, 36, New Bloomfield; and Christopher R. Thebes, 40, New Bloomfield. Since 1987, Frederick Thebes has been the president of Dynamite Disposal New Bloomfield.
Corbett noted that Dynamite Disposal is the primary waste hauler for Perry County residents.
According to the criminal complaint, the Thebes used their business to collect municipal and household waste and then dumped and buried the trash on their business property instead of delivering it to a landfill. An estimated 200 tons of municipal waste was allegedly buried on the property.
Corbett said that waste items such as furniture, carpet, clothes and other “junk” were also allegedly burned and buried.
The charges state that drivers who operated Dynamite Disposal garbage trucks were frequently instructed to return their fully loaded trucks to the business at the end of the day, instead of properly dumping them at a landfill.
“Environmental crimes harm the quality of life for every Pennsylvanian,” Corbett said. “People who aimlessly dump waste in our streams, forests and natural resources will be held accountable for these crimes.”
Corbett said that in July 2003, the Cumberland County Landfill refused to accept waste from Dynamite Disposal because their unpaid balance was too high. Frederick Thebes allegedly instructed his drivers to return all loaded garbage trucks to the business and directed the waste be dumped in an area by a cell tower.
“Illegal dumping of any kind is unacceptable, but dumping waste in the natural habitats of wildlife because you can no longer legally dump at a landfill is even more egregious,” Corbett said.
Agents executed a search of the Thebes property and excavated massive quantities of municipal waste, which included household garbage and construction and demolition waste. Waste was allegedly buried as deep as 20 feet underground and as shallow as right under the surface.
Corbett said that the buried waste included items that were dated between August 1998 and March 2006, including blue garbage bags marked “Dynamite Disposal.”
Corbett noted that customers placed their garbage in Dynamite Disposal bags for collection. Numerous blue garbage bags were allegedly found in holes and trenches located throughout the property.
The charges state that a number of large trenches were also dug on the property, some measuring as much as 125 feet long and 35 feet deep, which Thebes used to bury waste on the property.
Corbett said that construction and demolition waste was dumped into the trenches, along with household waste. In one area, Thebes allegedly dumped tires, tree stumps and garbage into a trench in order to level off the ground.
A review of DEP records revealed that no permits or licenses had ever been issued to Thebes, Dynamite Disposal or any of the company’s employees for the storage, disposal, treatment or transportation of waste.
Frederick Thebes and Dynamite Disposal are charged with two violations of the Clean Streams Law. Each count is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine.
They are also charged with seven counts of unlawful conduct under the Solid Waste Management Act. Each count is a third-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison and up to a $25,000 fine.
Douglas and Christopher Thebes are each charged with seven counts of unlawful conduct under the Solid Waste Management Act, which are third-degree misdemeanors.
The case will be prosecuted in Perry County by Deputy Attorney General Brian Coffey of the Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Section.
Corbett thanked the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Power and Light for their assistance and cooperation with the investigation.