WHITESBORO -- An Oriskany man will spend the next year on probation for improperly removing asbestos.

74-year-old Leonard Pugh was sentenced in federal court following his guilty plea to a violation of the Clean Air Act.

Pugh will spend one year on probation and must pay a $5,000 fine.

He is an owner of the 44 Mohawk Street LLC, that owned a building in Whitesboro. The building, at 44 Mohawk Street, had approximately 6000 square feet of asbestos. Pugh admits he hired an unlicensed person to demolish the building with knowledge that he would not first notify the Environmental Protection Agency of the demolition activity, maintain the asbestos in a wet condition during removal activities and dispose of the asbestos in a landfill authorized by law to accept asbestos contaminated materials.

Asbestos was determined to cause various forms of cancer and asbestosis, which is a nearly always deadly lung disease. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos.