Three local men now face prison time for exposing potentially hundreds of people to cancer-causing asbestos.
It stems from the partial demolition of the old Standard Coosa Thatcher plant in 2005.
A federal judge yesterday ordered David Wood, James Mathis and Donald Fillers to report to prison by November 16th.
They also face heavy fines for exposing people to cancer-causing asbestos.
Many of those same people still live in the Oak Grove community with what's left of the plant.
Freddie Marie Sparks wonders if the illegal actions of three businessmen have put her..and her neighbors health in jeopardy.
FREDDIE MARIE SPARKS, WATKINS STREET RESIDENT "The building ...It was just falling down, they was knocking the bricks down...we had to deal with all kind of dust that was coming into the house."
The old Standard Coosa Thatcher plant across the street has been abandoned for years.
In 2005 David Wood, James Mathis and Donald Fillers hired day laborers and began removing asbestos, a known carcinogen...without following Federal guidelines.
It wasn't long before local, state and federal agencies stopped the illegal work and the EPA set about removing the asbestos in the correct way.
Authorities say by the time the work was halted, hundreds of people, especially the day laborers may have been exposed to asbestos.
YOLANDA BRIDGES, WATKINS STREET RESIDENT "It was pretty bad, you really couldn't come outside, you'd have to cover your nose..your features. You'd come outside to get a breath of fresh air but you couldn't because it was so toxic."
Parts of the old plant are still standing and an eye-sore for the neighborhood nears Dodds avenue.
The Hamilton county air pollution control bureau says an application was made in March for an un-named group to begin a new demolition project, but no permits have been issued.
FREDDIE MARIE SPARKS ".. bricks are still falling from this building and its dangerous. Its not just a good thing for us and our neighborhood"
For residents of the area, this is an uncertain time.
Some are wondering when the old eye-sore will be demolished, while others are wondering if they will suffer long-term health problems because of the first time someone tried to do it.
