Newsroom
All News Releases By Date
PA LOUISIANA MAN INDICTED FOR ILLEGAL CHEMICAL DISPOSAL
Release Date: 05/01/98
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1998
LOUISIANA MAN INDICTED FOR ILLEGAL CHEMICAL DISPOSAL
On April 23, James Lee Miller, of Bogalusa, La., was indicted in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis for allegedly violating the Clean Water Act by discharging the chemical styrene at the Bloomsdale rest stop on I-55 approximately 60 miles south of St. Louis on March 16. In order to protect the public, over 100 people had to be evacuated from their homes in the area of Bloomsdale, Mo. The discharge also caused the temporary closure of the Bloomsdale Elementary School and killed thousands of fish in Establishment Creek and Fourche A Du Lecleure Creek, damaging an important local recreational resource. Depending upon the degree of exposure, breathing of styrene vapors can produce symptoms that range from irritation to the eyes and lining of the respiratory system to significant respiratory and neurological illnesses. Ingestion of styrene can produce cancer, liver disease and blood disorders. If convicted, Miller faces a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment and/or fines of up to $250,000. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation and the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center.
R-54 ###
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.
