All News Releases By Date

PA W.V. CHEM. MANUF. CO. FINED FOR FRAUD. HAZ. WASTE SCHEME

Release Date: 06/14/96
Contact Information:

PA W.V. CHEM. MANUF. CO. FINED FOR FRAUD. HAZ. WASTE SCHEME

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1996

tWEST VIRGINIA CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY FINED FOR FRAUDULENT HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL SCHEME

Newell Specialty Chemicals Inc., based in Newell, W.Va., was sentenced on June 6, in federal court in Wheeling, W.Va., to pay a fine of $22,140 for fraudulently mishandling hazardous waste. The company had previously pleaded guilty to one count of a 16-count indictment charging it with mail fraud, violations of hazardous waste storage, transportation and disposal regulations and violations of the Clean Water Act. The company also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud by taking money from customers to dispose of manufacturing wastes. Rather than dispose of the wastes, Newell stored them on site for several years. Newell's corporate sentencing followed the May 28 sentencing of its chief executive officer and majority stockholder and two former vice presidents for their role in the environmental offenses. They each received four months in jail, four months home confinement and a $6,000 fine after pleading guilty to misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act. This case was investigated by EPA's Criminal Investigation Division, the FBI and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

R-85 # # #