Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Improper handling of asbestos put the Citadel Plaza developers in hot water.  William Threatt Jr. pled guilty to violations of the Clean Air Act in connection with asbestos removal his employees undertook nearly eleven years ago.  He and his partner now face up to 5 years in prison in addition to a possible $250,000 in fines.

Threatt and his partner face fines and jail time due to the health risk that they created that could lead to deaths years down the line.  Exposure to asbestos materials without protection can release toxic asbestos fibers into the air- fibers that can easily be ingested or inhaled by workers or passersby.  The fibers then lodge in the soft tissues and decades later cause scarring or a deadly cancer called mesothelioma.  Because mesothelioma is caused by asbestos and difficult to pronounce, many refer to is as "asbestos cancer."  Even small amounts of asbestos can be deadly.

The aborted Citadel Plaza project never reached fruition and after years of working on the site, the plug was finally pulled leaving a half-finished eyesore right in the middle of Kansas City.  Located at 63rd Street and Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, the project has caused a lot of real world headaches for the developers and the city alike. 

Prior to this latest round of litigation, Threatt had sued the city for $20 million for failing to come up with funds to revitalize the ailing project in 2008.  The city had pledged $80 million toward the project but apparently got cold feet.  The suit was recently settled for $15 million. 

Called before U.S. district court in Kansas City Threatt, the lead developer, admitted that he willingly and knowingly violated regulations pertaining to the safe removal and disposal of asbestos materials between 2001 and 2006.

The asbestos threat stemmed from the demolition of several homes in the area.  The homes, constructed before the 1980’s ban on asbestos products, contained large amounts of the toxic materials.  Asbestos demolitions happen every day and when done properly very few issues arise.  However, Threatt and his partner authorized the demolition project to go forward without first testing for the presence of asbestos and other hazardous materials, which is a violation of the Clean Air Act when a project is so large in scope, and no paperwork was filed with authorities prior to the wrecking ball swinging. 

The homes were being cleared to make room for a 35-acre shopping center which would have housed a full-service grocery in additional to several other retailers and restaurants.  Several homes were also scheduled to be constructed at the site as well.

As the project dragged on, untrained workers were allowed to pile contaminated demolition debris all over the site – a double violation.  Asbestos debris is required to be secured and transported in sealed containers and hauled away to properly accredited waste management facilities and only trained and certified individuals are allowed to handle the materials during the process.  These contaminated materials put workers at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases. 

Threatt’s financial partner plead guilty to similar charges late last year.  The two men will be sentenced at a future date.