Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey confirmed that PG&E contacted his office regarding the allegations and said he is waiting for further information from the utility. In a statement, PG&E spokesperson James Noonan called the alleged actions of Bay Area Concrete "completely unacceptable.". "This is in addition to avoiding the significant negative environmental impacts that trucking and processing these materials elsewhere in the state would have caused," he wrote. Yadwinder has three known connections and has the most companies in common with Sabrina Hamipi. It paid a low hourly rate, but it was a steady contract that soon expanded to include sweeping PG&E sites from Sacramento to Monterey and east into the Central Valley. According to the disposal company, it racked up $14 million in unpaid invoices. 90 percent of businesses in Butte County were destroyed in the wildfire. Singh and Johal met Olivero for lunch along with his boss, Jim Lucero, at a high-end restaurant in Oakland. PG&Es filing is in response to a breach of contract lawsuit filed against the utility in October by Bay Area Concrete. A city water pollution expert warned the runoff could be contaminating San Francisco Bay. In 2019, they leased land on Treasure Island in the San . Chris Packal, Bay Area Concrete's operations manager, downplayed the citations the company received from regulators in Hayward and other cities as minor corrections. The facility processed the slurry waste from hydrovac trucks, special excavation equipment that uses pressurized water to dig around delicate equipment like buried gas lines or cables. Bay Area Concrete also said that it continued to work for PG&E as other companies fled when the utility declared bankruptcy in January 2019. In 2018, Singh and Johal acquired a property in Tracy in California's Central Valley and opened new facilities in Seattle and San Jose. During public comment, Gerald Carroll, an attorney for another neighbor, D.W. Nicholson, pleaded with the commission to deny the appeal, citing concerns about the health of their employees from dust. This Dec. 3, 2018, file photo, shows homes leveled by the Camp Fire line at the Ridgewood Mobile Home Park retirement community in Paradise, Calif. A PG&E contractor accused of bribery and fraud during the Camp Fire cleanup had a history of illicit dumping, conflict with regulators and employed a senior manager connected to environmental crimes, according to a new investigation by the Bay City News Foundation and ProPublica. The sprawling complex includes parking for utility trucks, a repair station, outdoor storage for large spools of wires, pipes and other equipment, and a compressed natural gas vehicle fueling station. PG&Es filing is in response to a breach of contract lawsuit filed against the utility in October by Bay Area Concrete. Public records show that the companys income increased substantially, from $16.5 million to $43.5 million, after receiving a contract to dispose of waste in connection with the Paradise fire. He said the company may have overlooked some details as it grew its business. PG&E alleges that Huggins was aware of Kooista's actions and did not disclose them. Ownership of that new company was later transferred to a PG&E employee who oversaw Bay Area Concretes work in Paradise. According to the disposal company, it racked up $14 million in unpaid invoices. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. But at a city Planning Commission meeting in November 2018, commissioners were unmoved. Ramsey said in an email that he received no further information from PG&E but had determined that his office did not have jurisdiction in the case. "It was definitely a battle with the city the whole time," Packal said. By then, Singh and Johal's Hayward site included the slurry disposal operation, the hauling business and the unpermitted concrete recycling business. That business grew substantially in November 2018, when a PG&E transmission line sparked a wildfire in Butte County that destroyed more than 18,000 structures and killed 85 people. Bauters spoke in defense of Bay Area Concrete, arguing that city staff had not responded to the company's attempts to come into compliance. Adding water to dirt makes it illegal to take to ordinary landfills, since dumping it can allow common pollutants like lead or hydrocarbons ?to seep into groundwater. Singh and Johal's companies also have a history of not cooperating with inspectors. Lucero, who pleaded guilty in a 2008 case involving the payment of bribes to landfill operators in San Jose, told one of Johal and Singh's employees that he had permission to dump on a national wildlife refuge site on the shores of San Francisco Bay. In multiple interviews with the news organizations, Bay Area Concrete officials denied the firm had done anything wrong. In an interview, Bay Area Concrete operations manager Chris Packal argued that there were legitimate differences in opinion over what zoning allowed for the site in Hayward. Dawn Sweatt, an attorney for Bay Area Concrete, said her clients vehemently deny the allegations by PG&E. My Official Page - Yadwinder Singh #14 Power Forward for Indian Senior Men's Basketball Team; Haryana Gold at UBA & Zarkawt BCA at MSL. Since 2010, the power and gas company has been found responsible for 117 deaths and hit with more than $15 billion in fines and damages for failing to maintain gas and power lines that stretch across California. He is very compassionate and Caring. "As we have stated previously, PG&E will continue to hold ourselves and those that do work on our behalf to the highest ethical standards.". According to PG&Es complaint, CCI did hauling work for Bay Area Concrete, which would submit invoices directly to PG&E. That business grew substantially in November 2018, when a PG&E transmission line sparked a wildfire in Butte County that destroyed more than 18,000 structures and killed 85 people. Bay Area Concrete is part of a sprawling network of hauling, recycling and construction companies owned by Bay Area couple Preet Johal and Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh. Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey said last year that PG&E alerted his office to the allegations against Bay Area Concrete. Bay Area Concrete stuck around and opened a new dump on PG&E property in Petaluma. New York, United States. Kooistra sold his home in California in February and returned to Arizona, where he founded a pool cleaning business in May. Another shell company, CCI Management, was owned by Kooistra and acted as a subcontractor for Bay Area Concrete in Paradise. The company declined to make Singh or Johal available for an interview. Clearly what you are doing now is not working. A Santa Clara University psychology professor said the enormity of the destruction and devastation in Paradise can take an emotional toll on fire victim and leave psychological scars. The company is owned and managed by the husband-wife team Yadwinder "Kevin" Singh and Preet Johal, according to local and state documents. In addition to his work with Bay Area Concrete, Bauters did training for the California Stormwater Quality Association. The full investigation is available here: https://www.propublica.org/article/how-a-pg-e-contractor-with-a-sketchy-past-made-millions-after-californias-deadliest-fire. The complaint alleges that Huggins and Kooistra approved the overbilled work in exchange for kickbacks. He said some facilities had been incorrectly ordered shut down. Huggins retired, and Kooistra sold his home and moved out of state after being confronted by PG&E investigators, the counterclaim by PG&E said. When confronted by PG&E investigators, Huggins told the investigators he had paid the $16,750 bill in cash, which he happened to have on hand in his house. The facility processed the slurry waste from hydrovac trucks, special excavation equipment that uses pressurized water to dig around delicate equipment like buried gas lines or cables. When confronted by PG&E investigators, Huggins told the investigators he had paid the $16,750 bill in cash, which he happened to have on hand in his house. It can also be found online. Singh did not respond to requests for comment. Bay Area Concrete has said that PG&E's accusations of fraud are false and the bankrupt utility was just trying to get out of paying its bills. Later, the news agencies revealed a suspicious real estate transaction that connected Singh and one of the PG&E employees. Meanwhile, competing companies lost work with PG&E. Is the Stanley Quencher tumbler worth its TikTok hype? Ramsey said in an email that he received no further information from PG&E but had determined that his office did not have jurisdiction in the case. A subordinate is accused of having received a bribe in an unorthodox property transfer of a multimillion-dollar house in a wealthy suburb of San Francisco. The pair were careful to keep Bay Area Concretes purchase orders low enough that Huggins would not have to seek approval from his supervisors. My Official Page - Yadwinder Singh #14 Power Forward for Indian Senior Men's Basketball Team;. He argued that there were legitimate differences in opinion over what zoning allowed for the site in Hayward. Yadwinder Singh, MD specializes in Internal Medicine at OhioHealth Physician Group in Circleville, OH. Hayward levied nearly $60,000 in fines over that period. Despite that, PG&E then contracted with Bay Area Concrete to play a key role in the cleanup after the Camp Fire. The pair were careful to keep Bay Area Concrete's purchase orders low enough that Huggins would not have to seek approval from his supervisors. In an interview, Bay Area Concrete operations manager Chris Packal argued that there were legitimate differences in opinion over what zoning allowed for the site in Hayward. Now, an investigation by the Bay City News Foundation and ProPublica has revealed for the first time a multimillion-dollar real estate transaction linking one of Bay Area Concrete's owners,. In late 2019, PG&E learned of the alleged fraud and launched an investigation. "PG&E has initiated an internal review to determine why this wasn't detected earlier, and we will be enhancing our protocols to ensure this doesn't happen again," a PG&E spokesperson wrote. In October, the Washington Department of Ecology ordered the company to keep its site clean and halt discharge of wastewater to storm drains. Two days later, Kooistra quit his job, according to the complaint. Find Dr. Singh's phone number, address, insurance information, hospital affiliations and more. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. PG&E also hired another company owned by Singh and Johal, PMK Contractors, to help build its command center for the fire, according to Packal. The decision would prove the latest in a series of dubious choices by PG&E that have raised questions about the utility's commitment to safety and the environment, the review found. In late 2019, PG&E learned of the alleged fraud and launched an investigation. Hydro excavation trucks use pressurized water to dig around delicate equipment and avoid accidentally rupturing a gas pipeline or destroying buried wires. The site was shut down by police and its operator, James Lucero, was convicted of violations of the federal Clean Water Act. After contracting for the Paradise cleanup, Bay Area Concrete's annual revenue jumped from $16.5 million to $43.5 million, according to documents filed with a lease application. T.J. Simmons, then-senior vice president of ConXtech, a neighboring business, wrote a letter to the city in 2018 to complain. Kooistra sold his home in California in February and returned to Arizona, where he founded a pool cleaning business in May. PG&E operates a service center across the street from Bay Area Concrete's main facility in Hayward. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Heres how the scheme worked, according to PG&Es allegations in court filings. The company says it is being more vigilant about trimming trees around its power lines and replacing outdated equipment before it crumbles. In 2018, Singh and Johal acquired a property in Tracy in California's Central Valley and opened new facilities in Seattle and San Jose. Dr. Yadwinder Singh is a Internist in Circleville, OH. Huggins retired, and Kooistra sold his home and moved out of state after being confronted by PG&E investigators, the counterclaim by PG&E said. For years, the owners of Bay Area Concrete Recycling had run an unlicensed dump in the city of Hayward, California. "Imagine how cavalier they will be if you approve this permit.". He wrote he was concerned rocks would tumble onto his property and hit someone. Another shell company, CCI Management, was owned by Kooistra and acted as a subcontractor for Bay Area Concrete in Paradise. "The allegations are patently false and not supported by the evidence," she said. Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Other Specialty (7) 2 Awards . As a result, the value of Bay Area Concretes contracts with PG&E increased exponentially over a period of four years, the lawsuit said. "You need to know what you need to do to control this dust. If the dust was allowed to drain into the bay, it could be harmful to fish. Dawn Sweatt, an attorney for Bay Area Concrete, said her clients "vehemently deny" the allegations by PG&E. Two days later, Kooistra quit his job, according to the complaint. Bay Area Concrete opened a dump in Paradise to take the waste from the cleanup. According to PG&E's complaint, CCI did hauling work for Bay Area Concrete, which would submit invoices directly to PG&E. ", When Bay Area Concrete faced tough questions from regulators, Bauters, the company's environmental officer, could usually smooth things over. The firm was tied to illegal dumping on federally protected wetlands and had engaged in a long conflict with regulators in the city of Hayward, where Bay Area Concrete operates a dump. The litigation process will make this clear in time.. Dr. Singh is a very knowledgeable, explain things Very thoroughly. PG&E alleges that Huggins approved false invoices and concealed fraudulent charges throughout PG&E's contract with Bay Area Concrete. In a statement, PG&E spokesperson James Noonan called the alleged actions of Bay Area Concrete completely unacceptable., We will pursue every available action to remedy the situation and do right by those that we have the privilege to serve, Noonan said. 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