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PA TOP MANAGER AND CORP. CONVICTED IN P.RICO OIL SPILL DISAST

Release Date: 5/3/96
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PA TOP MANAGER AND CORP. CONVICTED IN P.RICO OIL SPILL DISAST

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1996

TOP MANAGER AND CORPORATIONS CONVICTED IN PUERTO RICO OIL SPILL DISASTER

Pedro Rivera, General Manager of Bunker Group Puerto Rico, and three corporate defendants Bunker Group Puerto Rico, Bunker Group Incorp. and New England Marine Services were convicted on April 25, of felony and misdemeanor charges in federal court for their roles in the Jan. 7, 1994, spill of more than 750,00 gallons of oil in the waters off of Puerto Rico's Escambron Beach. Prior to the spill, the beach had been in pristine condition and had been an important source of tourist revenue. The spill occurred when the barge "Morris J. Berman," which was carrying nearly 35,000 barrels of number 6 fuel oil, broke loose from the tugboat "Emily S" after an improperly repaired tow cable broke while all but one of the crew were asleep. Captain Roy A. McMichael, Jr., who was in command of the "Emily S," testified. Both he and First Mate Victor Martinez, who was supposed to be on watch that night, previously pleaded guilty to violations of the Clean Water Act. The maximum sentence which can be imposed on Rivera is five years in prison. The corporations are subject to a maximum criminal fine of $1.2 million or twice the gross monetary loss which could amount to over $100 million. Damage costs of the spill have exceeded $81 million. The three corporations belong to the Frank family of corporations whose assets were placed under court supervision on April 6, 1994, by the federal courts. These convictions were the result of close cooperation between agents of the EPA Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice.

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