4Jan/16

United Airlines’ political protection in Chicago – EPA and OSHA refuse to enforce their own laws

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Marty Watters, Investigative Reporter

 

 

United Airlines executives were so confident of the protection racket they enjoy in Chicago that they continued to break asbestos laws - right in plain view of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors.

This display of arrogance is so unbelievably brazen considering the fact that the EPA and OSHA put other people in prison for breaking these same asbestos laws.

In March of 2015, the EPA and OSHA received multiple complaints that United was illegally removing and dumping asbestos from its former World Headquarters (WHQ) in suburban Chicago.

So they begrudgingly opened a so-called " joint investigation".

What followed is a blatant display of government corruption that is hard to fathom even for Chicago.

For example: During the EPA's and OSHA's so-called "joint investigation" of illegal asbestos removal at United's former WHQ, government officials were given the exact time and location of crimes in progress at the very same facility they were supposedly investigating.

---------------------------------------------------

From: Marty Watters

Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2015 3:28 PM
To: Linda Rosen (EPA)
Subject: United Airlines (illegal asbestos removal & dumping)

Linda

A&E Services, Inc. is presently removing asbestos illegally by the dry removal method at United Airlines' campus located at 1200 E. Algonquin Rd. Elk Grove Village IL.

The work that I am bringing to your attention this time, is being done in machine room 1 (boiler room) of the south building. A&E is scraping the friable spray-on asbestos fireproofing material off the ceiling deck. Again, no notice was given and regulations are not being followed. And once again, the asbestos that was removed from the ceiling is being transported to another location for undisclosed dumping.

And as we discussed, the illegal dumping of asbestos is definitely with-in your purview.

The attached pictures are of the area where this illegal abatement is happening.

The work is being done in the evening.

You said you need to catch them in the act. Well go do so.

As required by whistleblower protection mandates I must insist that the attached pictures and the existence of them not be disclosed to United Airlines or anyone outside of the EPA until consent is given.

Marty Watters
(redacted)

United Airlines Warned Employees: ‘Avoid Breathing Airborne Asbestos Fibers’

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/barbara-hollingsworth/united-airlines-warned-employees-avoid-breathing-airborne

United Airlines Told Employees to “Avoid Breathing Airborne Asbestos Fibers”? We’d Call That #MissionImpossible

http://baronandbudd.com/protecting-whats-right/2015/01/avoid-breathing-airborne-asbestos-fibers/

---------------------------------------------------------

In the days to follow, United's asbestos contractor, A&E Services Inc., completed this particular illegal asbestos removal project and then moved on to another without even one visit from EPA or OSHA inspectors.

Clearly the EPA and OSHA didn't really want to catch United in the act.

Luckily someone else caught them in the act - on video.

IMG_0601.PNG

Oops! The bad guys didn't see that coming.

And now corrupt government officials are trying their best to escape the fact that a video recording of this illegal asbestos removal project exists.

They also did not anticipate me obtaining A&E Services' invoices for all the illegal asbestos removal work it was doing for United.

IMG_0707-0.PNG

Over the course of ten months, A&E submitted 68 separate illegal asbestos abatement invoices and was paid immediately upon completion of each job.

Under normal circumstances, where a company is not politically protected and the law is enforced, each and every one of those 68 separate illegal asbestos jobs would have garnered a minimum of at least one $70K "willful violation" citation from OSHA. That's a total of $4.7 million in fines just for starters.

In addition, A&E Services owner Robert Nykaza - along with numerous United managers - would be singing like canaries to stay out of prison.

And most troubling of all for the big-shots at United, this would all lead to the opening of a very big can of worms involving financial records, corporate filings and false disclosure statements.

That's when the fun would really begin!

Of course, United executives could not afford to let that happen. Not when they could just buy political protection.

Needless to say, this kind of corruption causes government officials to go completely deaf and blind to all things bad. And also explains why Nykaza has been threatening me and a United Airlines whistleblower because we are exposing them. I'll have more on Nykaza at a later date.

Even in Chicago, only big well-connected corporations like United are afforded this level of political protection.

Put simply, United Airlines enjoys above-the-law status for the moment.

The Question is: With more proof of United's criminal behavior on the way, how long will that last?

More to come....

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14Dec/15

United Airlines’ asbestos cover-up: EPA and OSHA officials as stupid as they are corrupt

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Marty Watters, Investigative Reporter

IMG_0774.PNG

 

If it wasn't bad enough that the officials at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in Chicago are corrupt, it turns out that they're complete half-wits to boot.             

It's as though these agencies put a moratorium on hiring employees with triple-digit IQ's.

For example, take EPA criminal investigator Eric Hann's brain-dead assertion that video recordings of illegal activity are "hearsay". An assertion that OSHA director Angie Loftus agrees with.

Almost as dumbfounding is the fact Hann thought nothing of putting that little intellectual gem in writing!

--------------------------------------------

-----Original Message-----
From: Marty Watters
To: Eric Hann (EPA)
Cc: Nathan Frank (EPA), Randall Ashe (EPA), Linda Rosen (EPA), Justin Oesterreich (EPA)
Sent: June 13, 2015 at 5:30 PM
Subject: Rules of evidence

Mr. Hann

Before you are so bold as to presume you can teach me about the rules of evidence in a criminal case. I suggest you seek counsel on what the criminal courts consider "hearsay" and what they do not.

It is very disturbing that the person leading the EPA's criminal investigation of United Airlines has made the determination that video recordings of crimes being committed are "hearsay" before he has even viewed said recordings

Mr. Watters

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Eric Hann (EPA)
To: Marty Watters
Sent:Sat Jun 13 09:40:02 UTC 2015
Subject: Re: Proof of criminal activity!

Mr Watters

We are going back and forth. I not sure if your familiar with the rules of evidence for criminal cases. Those are the rules I must follow to use anything in my investigation. That is that. While I am trying to move forward, I explained before. Since you are obviously not willing to provide me with your sources(as you called the), I suggest that the hearsay evidence all be presented to the civil side of ILEPA, OSHA and USEPA - they will respond in the appropriate manner. Since you earlier stated that you have been speaking with these agencies, you have their telephone numbers. I hope this helps and I wish you luck.

On Jun 13, 2015, at 1:45 PM, "Marty Watters" wrote:

Mr. Hann

You continue to show no interest in seeing video recorded proof of criminal activity.

Why is that?

----- Original Message -----
From: Eric Hann (EPA)
To: Marty Watters
Cc: Linda Rosen (EPA), Randall Ashe (EPA), Nathan Frank (EPA), Justin Oesterreich (EPA)
Sent:Sat Jun 13 06:35:34 UTC 2015
Subject: Re: Proof of criminal activity!

Mr Watters

A unfair statement. I am trying to speak to the individuals that have first hand knowledge - the ones who were at the alleged site as things allegedly occurred. It seems that you do not want to provided them to me. That is your decision. I can only use information from those individuals (sources). Once again, I ask that you email me their names and phone numbers. That is the rules I must follow.

On Jun 13, 2015, at 12:49 PM, "Marty Watters" wrote:

Would someone explain why the EPA has expressed zero interest in obtaining the definitive proof (offered below) of United Airlines illegal removal and dumping of asbestos from their former World Headquarters, while conversely the EPA is fixated on learning the identity of the people who have compiled that same proof of criminal activity that you have shown zero interest in seeing?

Marty Watters

-----Original Message-----
From: Marty Watters
To: Eric Hann
Cc: Randall Ashe (EPA), Linda Rosen (EPA), Nathan Frank (EPA), Justin Oesterreich (EPA)
Sent: June 11, 2015 at 2:37 PM
Subject: United Airlines illegal asbestos removal and dumping (boiler room - south building)

Mr. Eric Hann

Are you interested in a video recording of the illegal removal and dumping of asbestos from United Airlines facilities located at 1200 E. Algonquin Rd. Elk Grove Village, IL?

Marty Watters

----------------------------------------------------

What makes this exchange even more amazing is that I did not contact the EPA's criminal division. It was the EPA's civil division that had Mr. Hann contact me after seeing some of the evidence I compiled against United.

Aside from not wanting to see any of the irrefutable evidence against United, Mr. Hann later refused to talk to another person with direct knowledge of United's illegal activities who offered to come forward.

Seems that Mr. Hann's real objective from the beginning was to learn who my sources were so the EPA could rat them out to United.

Nice try, Eric. If only you were half as smart as you are corrupt, you might have succeeded.

Not to be outdone when it comes to being stupid, Nathan Frank, the director of EPA's region V civil division, had this to say after Hann kicked the investigation back to him:

"When a corporation decides to lie to us there is really nothing we can do about it, that's why we refer it to the criminal division."

As you can clearly see, these government "servants" are mentally challenged.

These are just a few examples why Illinois can now claim to have both the dumbest and most corrupt government officials in the nation.

Did I mention that this was all happening after the EPA insisted that both they and OSHA were closing their investigations after two weeks without even looking at the evidence?

Obviously closing their so-called "investigations" has not worked out quite the way they planned.

----------------------------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----
From: Ron Robeen (IL EPA)
To: Marty Watters
Sent:Wed Apr 15 03:19:52 UTC 2015
Subject: Re: phone cal

I was told that by Cook County. I would ask them who it was.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 15, 2015, at 10:18 AM, "Marty Watters wrote:

Ron

When we last spoke you told me that OSHA was closing their investigation of United Airlines illegal asbestos removal at United's former world headquarters located in Elk Grove Village, IL.

Who was it at OSHA that told you that?

----- Original Message -----
From: Ron Robeen (IL EPA)
To: Marty Watters
Sent:Wed Apr 15 01:47:25 UTC 2015
Subject: phone call

Hi Marty,

Sorry I haven’t called you back from yesterday. Not sure if I will get the chance today either. Please email me with any issues or questions and I will try to email you back.

Thanks

Ron Robeen
Acting Field Operations Section Manager
Illinois EPA, Bureau of Air
1021 N. Grand Ave. East, MC #41
Springfield Illinois 62702
Phone: 217/524-0229
Fax: 217/782-1875

---------------------------------------------------------

Since then, both the EPA and OSHA have been going deeper and deeper down the United Airlines' asbestos cover-up hole.

Stay tuned! This story of corruption gets even better. Or should I say even dumber.

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18Nov/15

United Airlines’ asbestos cover-up: OSHA Director commits perjury

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Marty Watters, Investigative Reporter

OSHA Director Angeline Loftus

OSHA Director Angeline Loftus

 

The fact that United Airlines is claiming to have lost all records of its illegal removal and disposal of asbestos from its former World Headquarters in suburban Chicago should come as no surprise.

Did anyone really think United was going to confess to willfully exposing people to a known carcinogen? Of course not.

(United Airlines’ illegal abatement at former World Headquarters exposing employees to airborne asbestos fibers)

What did surprise me and what should trouble anyone who believes in honest government is this:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is accepting United's "lost records" defense even though I personally provided OSHA with copies of the very same records United claims are missing. Records that clearly would be considered inculpatory evidence in a criminal case against United.

Even more disturbing, OSHA area director Angeline Loftus has now signed a sworn declaration that was filed in Administrative Law Judge Dennis Phillips' court stating that these damning asbestos records do not exist. An assertion that Loftus knows is a complete falsehood.

Ooops! That's called perjury, Angie. That's a crime.

And so is covering up United's criminal behavior.

 

Here's an excerpt from Loftus' sworn declaration:

IMG_0739-2.PNG

Loftus refuses to acknowledge the existence of the so-called "missing records" because they prove that United was illegally removing asbestos from its former WHQ

IMG_0525.PNG
Loftus also knows that the so-called "missing records" reveal that United officials were committing accounting fraud in a quest to conceal the airlines' asbestos liabilities and related criminal behavior.

Over the course of ten months, A&E Services Inc. of Barrington, IL (Robert Nykaza) was paid over $1.1 million to illegally remove asbestos-containing insulation from United's former WHQ.

Here's how the scam worked:

A&E would submit differently worded invoices with the same invoice number for work performed. The more descriptive invoice, which deceptively referred to asbestos-containing material as "fiberglass insulation", would get buried in facilities manager Sylvia Empen's file.

IMG_0701.PNG

 

Meanwhile the less descriptive line item invoice would be submitted for payment in full on the personal company credit card of one of several United managers - in many cases before the work was even completed.

 

IMG_0702.PNG
Paying by credit card allowed United to circumvent internal controls, thus concealing its illegal asbestos abatement and forgoing all the nasty liabilities that go with it.

Ms. Loftus was made aware of all of this before signing the sworn declaration.

There is no question that United would have liked these records to just disappear.

Unfortunately for United, they did not.

The questions to ask now are:

Why is OSHA protecting United Airlines when it should be prosecuting it for endangering employees and the public?

And

Does OSHA area director Angie Loftus have a summer home in South Carolina like United's friend at the New Jersey Port Authority?

I called Ms. Loftus for comment. She did not deny that she had committed perjury. She did refer me to attorneys in the Secretary of Labors office. I am still waiting to hear back from them.

Much more to come.....

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21Sep/15

OSHA is attempting to cover up United Airlines’ criminal behavior

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Marty Watters, Investigative Reporter

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) in Chicago is currently doing all that it can to cover up United Airlines' illegal removal and dumping of asbestos from its former World Headquarters located in Elk Grove Village, IL.

Do the people involved in this cover-up even realize the mind-boggling stupidity that they are displaying in their remarkably audacious attempts to make United Airlines asbestos problems go away?

Because in the process, OSHA is deliberately allowing United employees to be exposed to this known carcinogen. By all accounts, what they are both doing is a serious crime!

United was bold enough to buy political considerations from the Port Authority in New Jersey, so why would anyone doubt that United would do the same thing in Chicago?

I mean really it's Chicago!

So that there is no confusion, I am stating unequivocally that United Airlines is being protected by OSHA. And there is undeniable proof that this is the case.

This should come as no surprise to anyone. The protection racket game is part of doing business in Chicago. And the government in Illinois plays the game better than anyone.

Take, for example, how another Illinois company - Kehrer Brothers Construction, which clearly did not purchase the OSHA Protection Plan - is being treated compared to United.

__________________________________________________________________________

-----Original Message-----
From: Marty Watters
To: Anthony Santucci (OSHA)
Cc: Sukhvir Kaur (OSHA)
Sent: August 20, 2015 at 11:57 AM
Subject: Fwd: OSHA protects foreign workers - but not United Airlines employees!

Tony,

Care to comment?

Marty Watters

All indications are that OSHA is more concerned about the rights of temporary foreign guest-workers (H-B2) than they are about the health and well being of United Airlines employees (U.S. citizens) and their families.

Compare the charges leveled against Kehrer Brothers Construction to the well-documented far more egregious violations that are common at United Airlines former WHQ.

https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/JosephKehrerKehrerBrothersConstructionInc_1043352_0810_15.pdf

Illinois construction companies, manager face nearly $2M in fines
for exposing workers to known asbestos hazards
Companies ignored danger of asbestos at Okawville renovation project

https://www.osha.gov/newsrelease/reg5-20150811.html

-----Original Message-----

From: Marty Watters
To: Anthony Santucci (OSHA)
Cc: Sukhvir Kaur (OSHA)
Sent: August 11, 2015 at 8:37 AM
Subject: Fwd: Asbestos cover-up at United Airlines

Tony

Does OSHA have anything to say in its defense?

-----Original Message-----
From: Marty Watters
To: Megan McCarthy (Dir. Communications)
Sent: August 10, 2015 at 3:25 PM
Subject: Fwd: Asbestos cover-up at United Airlines

Ms. Megan McCarthy

Does United Airlines have anything to say?

Marty Watters

-----Original Message-----
From: Marty Watters
To: Brett Hart (UAL), Ada Dolph (Seyfarth Shaw), Jeff Smisek (UAL)
Sent: August 8, 2015 at 4:28 PM
Subject: Fwd: Asbestos cover-up at United Airlines

Which one of you licensed attorneys would like to comment on the asbestos cover-up going on at United's WHQ?

-----Original Message-----
From: Marty Watters
To: Scott Newland
Sent: August 7, 2015 at 10:28 AM
Subject: Fwd: United Airlines accuses Burns McDonnell

Mr. Scott Newland

United Airlines is claiming that the attached asbestos survey produced by Burns McDonnell falsely indicates asbestos were it does not exist. And, that your firm had an incentive to provide an erroneous survey. United is claiming that the spray-on fire proofing (shaded orange) is not asbestos.

1) Does Burns McDonnell stand behind the survey results provided?

2) Please address United's accusation that Burns McDonnell had something to gain by providing false asbestos test results.

Marty Watters
(redacted)

United Airlines’ illegal abatement at former World Headquarters exposing employees to airborne asbestos fibers

https://illinoispaytoplay.com/2015/07/27/united-airlines-illegal-abatement-at-former-world-headquarters-exposing-employees-to-airborne-asbestos-fibers/

-----Original Message-----
From: Marty Watters
To: Anthony Santucci (DOL)
Sent: July 8, 2015 at 9:12 AM
Subject: United Airlines South Building (boiler room)

Anthony

As we discussed the attached blueprint of United Airlines south building will direct you to where the illegal asbestos removal in the boiler room was being conducted. (area shaded orange)

Marty Watters

IMG_0633-1.PNG

IMG_0599-0.PNG

_____________________________________________________________________________

Everyone knows that to run a truly successful protection racket, not only do you need to go to extraordinary lengths to protect those who pay you, you also need to make an example and punish those who don't.

And punishing the average Joe is the one thing that OSHA and the EPA are very good at.
         ______________________________________________________________________________

-----Original Message-----
From: Marty Watters
To: Oscar Munoz (UAL)
Cc: Brett Hart (UAL)
Sent: September 17, 2015 at 10:26 AM
Subject: Fwd: United Airlines Illegal asbestos removal and dumping (boiler room south building)

Mr. Munoz

Would you like to see the recordings?

Marty Watters

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Marty Watters
To: Sukhvir Kaur (OSHA)
Cc: Anthony Santucci (OSHA)
Sent: Wed, 24 Jun 2015 19:55:36 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Fwd: United Airlines Illegal asbestos removal and dumping (boiler room south building)

Ms. Kaur

The fact that you have not replied to my offer below and have not returned my phone calls leads me to conclude that you do not want to see the video recorded proof that United Airlines is illegally removing asbestos from its campus in Elk Grove, IL

My question to you now is: Why do you not want to see the proof?

-----Original Message-----
From: Marty Watters
To: Sukhvir Kaur (OSHA)
Sent: June 11, 2015 at 12:13 PM
Subject: United Airlines Illegal asbestos removal and dumping (boiler room south building)

Ms. Sukhvir Kaur

Are you interested in a video recording of the illegal removal of asbestos from United Airlines facilities located at 1200 E. Algonquin Rd. Elk Grove Village, IL?

Marty Watters

________________________________________________________________________________

To date, OSHA has shown absolutely no interest in seeing the video-recorded proof that United is illegally removing and dumping asbestos from its former WHQ.

Even though United Airlines has been served up to OSHA on a silver platter!

Much more to come, including OSHA's partner in crime: the Environmental Protection Agency.

 OSHA, EPA, United Airlines, Burns McDonnell and Seyfarth Shaw were all contacted but declined to comment.

Related article: United Airlines Warned Employees: ‘Avoid Breathing Airborne Asbestos Fibers’

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