Northern New York Man Charged With Illegal Asbestos Disposal

A northern New York man faces felony charges after the Department of Environmental Conservation determined he had illegally disposed of asbestos-laden demolition debris in a wetland.

The DEC charged 57-year-old Randy Bedard of Rouses Point with endangering the public health, safety or the environment. In addition to the felony charge, Bedard was also charged with two related misdemeanors.

The investigation stemmed from the collapse of the former Drown Funeral Home in Mooers in January 2014. The DEC says Bedard removed 150 cubic yards of debris and dumped it at the Clinton County Solid Waste Management Facility and into a regulated wetland in the town of Mooers, 160 miles north of Albany.

Bedard pleaded not guilty in Town of Mooers Court and was released pending a court appearance next week.