Atlas Fireworks of Jaffrey and the landowner that leases to the pyrotechnic company have been indicted on charges that they illegally operated a solid waste facility.
The two companies – Atlas PyroVision Entertainment Group LLC and PLH LLC – were indicted by the Cheshire County Superior Court on two charges each on March 28. Each company was charged with a count of unlawful operation of solid waste facility and a count of unlawful operation of solid waste facility – buried CRTs.
“Atlas and PLH LLC understand that the charges recently filed against them by the State relate to the storage of computer/TV monitors at their secure facility located on Old Sharon Road in Jaffrey, NH, and the burial of broken glass from some of the monitors, which was identified and removed from the site in 2013,” said Steve Pelkey, CEO of Atlas, in a prepared statement. “Currently, Atlas, as part of a plan developed by environmental experts, is managing the remaining monitors under New Hampshire’s Universal Waste rules, pending transfer of the remaining monitors to appropriate recycling facilities.”
Atlas and PLH are accused of operating a private solid waste facility at 136 Old Sharon Road in Jaffrey between approximately July 4, 2010, and Aug. 20, 2013. The indictments say that Atlas and PLH knowingly kept buried solid waste – namely cathode ray tubes – and waste monitors with cathode ray tubes on the property without a DES permit.
Pelkey said that the storage of the remaining computers and TV monitors was undertaken by a “predecessor entity distinct from Atlas’ traditional fireworks business,” which merged into Atlas ProVision last year. The indictment said the organization was formerly known as Atlas Advanced Pyrotechnics, Atlas Property Management.
Pelkey further said Atlas hopes to resolve the issue with the state as soon as possible, and that Atlas and the Attorney General’s Office have agreed that the companies can plead not guilty and waive arraignment by mail in lieu of appearing in court today, April 7. Pelkey said the parties have agreed that no cash or surety is needed in the case.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235.