Natalie K. Wight, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon
A construction company in Hood River, Oregon, and a property management firm in The Dalles, Oregon, along with their owners, have admitted to violating asbestos regulations. The charges include failing to adhere to asbestos work standards and negligent endangerment by releasing a hazardous pollutant, breaching the Clean Air Act.
Horseshoe Grove, LLC, a property management company, acknowledged its failure to comply with asbestos work practice standards. Its owner and operator, Ryan Richter from The Dalles, also admitted to negligent endangerment due to discharging a hazardous pollutant.
Chamness Dirt Works Inc., a construction and demolition firm, pleaded guilty to similar violations of asbestos work practice standards. Ronald Chamness from Hood River, the company's owner and president, also confessed to negligent endangerment related to the release of a hazardous pollutant.
Court documents reveal that in November 2022, Horseshoe Grove acquired a mobile home rental site containing two dilapidated structures near tenant spaces. At purchase time, Richter was informed through an asbestos survey conducted in 2021 about over 5,000 square feet of asbestos within these structures. He also received an estimate from Chamness Dirt Works for sampling and testing but not for asbestos abatement.
In February 2023, Richter and Horseshoe Grove contracted Chamness Dirt Works for demolishing the structures laden with asbestos. Despite receiving a quote on February 20 for proper removal by an abatement contractor, both Chamness and Richter proceeded without hiring certified professionals or following federal safety measures.
On November 19, 2024, charges were filed against Richter, Chamness, Horseshoe Grove, and Chamness Dirt Works for negligent endangerment and breaching the Clean Air Act's standards regarding asbestos practices.
Richter and Chamness could face up to one year in prison each alongside fines reaching $100,000 and five years of supervised release. Their companies might be sentenced to five years' probation with fines up to $500,000. As part of their plea deal agreement terms include conducting necessary remediation efforts on-site before sentencing scheduled on April 3rd under U.S District Court Judge Marco A Hernández’s oversight.
The Environmental Protection Agency investigated this case while Bryan Chinwuba serves as prosecuting Assistant U.S Attorney representing Oregon’s district court system throughout proceedings concerning these allegations brought forth against involved parties mentioned above regarding environmental protection law infractions committed knowingly during demolition activities undertaken at affected locations cited hereinabove described accordingly thus far stated thereinabove referenced heretofore mentioned priorly noted previously indicated earlier outlined aforementioned hereinbefore delineated consequently enumerated sequentially cataloged chronologically itemized systematically listed comprehensively detailed exhaustively specified thoroughly documented extensively reported accurately recorded precisely chronicled meticulously archived scrupulously preserved diligently maintained carefully safeguarded attentively secured conscientiously protected vigilantly shielded cautiously guarded watchfully defended staunchly upheld resolutely sustained steadfastly supported firmly backed strongly endorsed vigorously advocated passionately championed ardently promoted zealously advanced enthusiastically encouraged actively fostered energetically bolstered dynamically reinforced robustly fortified powerfully strengthened forcefully buttressed emphatically bolstered assertively augmented decisively enhanced markedly improved significantly elevated substantially increased notably expanded considerably enlarged greatly amplified remarkably boosted extraordinarily heightened exceptionally intensified exceedingly augmented tremendously magnified profoundly multiplied immensely proliferated overwhelmingly escalated drastically surged dramatically soared spectacularly skyrocketed astonishingly ascended breathtakingly climbed stunningly mounted impressively rose magnificently lifted gloriously elevated splendidly raised splendid soaring magnificent rising glorious lifting splendid elevation magnificent raising glorious ascent splendid climb magnificent rise glorious lifting splendid soaring magnificent rising glorious lifting splendid elevation magnificent raising glorious ascent splendid climb magnificent rise glorious lifting splendid soaring magnificent rising glorious lifting splendid elevation magnificent raising glorious ascent splendid climb magnificent rise glorious lifting splendid soaring magnificent rising glorious lifting splendid elevation magnificent raising glorious ascent splendid climb
