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PA FLORIDA AUTO SALVAGE COMPANY AND MANAGER PLEAD GUILTY IN WASTE CASE
Release Date: 10/09/98
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1998
FLORIDA AUTO SALVAGE COMPANY AND MANAGER PLEAD
GUILTY IN WASTE CASE
GUILTY IN WASTE CASE
Kempton Brothers Inc., an auto salvage firm operating in the Tampa area, pleaded guilty on Sept. 18, in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa to two counts of illegally disposing of hazardous waste in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. In addition, Robert B. Kempton, owner and President of Kempton Brothers, pleaded guilty to one count of illegally disposing of a hazardous waste and one count of making a false statement. Kempton Brothers was in the business of recovering and cleaning used automobile parts. In the process, solvents, lacquer thinner and automobile fluids wastes such as antifreeze, oil, gasoline, transmission fluid and brake fluid were illegally flushed into a gravel-lined pit. At various times, the defendants excavated sludge containing hazardous waste from the pit and illegally disposed of it by placing it into automobiles destined for the scrap yard. Groundwater studies conducted by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation indicated there was contamination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and other chemicals in a well at the facility. Ingestion of these substances can cause damage to the kidneys and other internal organs and benzene from gasoline contamination can cause cancer in humans. The plea agreement recommended that the court impose a fine of $150,000 on Kempton Brothers, one year of imprisonment, and that Robert Kempton pay a fine of $100,000 and the cleanup costs. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, the FBI, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Division of Law Enforcement.
R-139 ###
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