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PA TWO IOWA MEN PLEAD GUILTY IN MISSISSIPPI RIVER POLL. CASE

Release Date: 07/12/96
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PA TWO IOWA MEN PLEAD GUILTY IN MISSISSIPPI RIVER POLL. CASE

FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1996

TWO IOWA MEN PLEAD GUILTY IN MISSISSIPPI RIVER POLLUTION CASE

On June 28, Donald R. Stoll, former general manager of Newt Marine Co. of Dubuque, Iowa, and on July 1, Michael Sandidge, former supervisor of Newt Marine's barge cleaning crew, both pleaded guilty to charges that they illegally discharged coal, fertilizer, salt, grain and other pollutants into the Mississippi River June 1, 1991 and Aug. 30, 1994. Stoll pleaded guilty to one count of negligently violating the Clean Water Act. He may receive a maximum of one year imprisonment and/or a fine of $25,000 per day. Sandidge pleaded guilty to one charge of knowingly violating the Rivers and Harbors Act. He faces a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment and/or a fine of not more than $100,000. Five other defendants have also been charged in this case and await trial for illegally polluting the Mississippi River by dumping 55-gallon barrels of waste and pumping wastes directly into the river. The case was

investigated by EPA's Criminal Investigation Division.

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