​NEWS RELEASE

FROM:
Karyn Sinunu, Assistant District Attorney   CONTACT PERSON:
John Fioretta, Deputy District Attorney
Environmental Protection Unit
(408) 792-2638   For release on November 1, 2004     HAZARDOUS WASTE DISCHARGE RESULTS IN FELONY CONVICTION   On October 29th Superior Court Judge Kevin Murphy sentenced Nasir Elyacy to county jail for four months for illegally discharging hazardous waste. Elyacy previously pleaded no contest to that charge, a felony, and four other misdemeanor counts arising from improper handling and storage of hazardous waste and hazardous materials at the dry cleaning business he formerly owned in Saratoga. The Court also ordered Elyacy to serve 200 hours in the community work program and to pay a $5,000 fine and $5,000 for restitution.   The dry cleaning process usually requires the use of perchloroethylene, a toxic chemical. Based on a tip from the Air District, inspectors from the County Department of Environmental Health’s Hazardous Materials Compliance Division caught Elyacy draining wastewater containing hazardous levels of perchloroethylene into a floor drain that emptied into the city sewer. He admitted to doing this for several weeks after his treatment equipment broke down. Elyacy had been previously cited four times for other violations.   The District Attorney’s Environmental Protection Unit prosecuted the case.   # # #