A List of the Most Wanted, by the E.P.A.

[MattSh]

Albania Deleon started a business eight years ago to instruct and certify workers in the safe removal of asbestos. It was a growth industry, and pretty soon her company, Environmental Compliance Training in Methuen, Mass., was the largest in the state.

Some might say Ms. Deleon, who was born in the Dominican Republic and is a naturalized citizen, was living the American dream.

But not the Environmental Protection Agency, which on Thursday added her to its list of “E.P.A. Fugitives,” people who have been charged with violating environmental laws or regulations.

In Ms. Deleon’s case, the environmental agency says that hundreds of the people she certified never received any asbestos training. She was convicted in November of 28 counts of fraud, and became eligible for the wanted list when she failed to appear for a sentencing hearing on March 23.

The E.P.A.’s list, complete with mug shots of the fugitives, was established in December to try to draw attention to serious environmental crimes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/us/06wanted.html?th&emc=th

http://www.epa.gov/fugitives/