5/19/2025
WT Staff
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May 19, 2025 124 pm EDT
SDWA CrimeBox
Historic Conviction Fiscal Year 2016; Case ID# CR_2866(Kansas)
Million dollar fine issued for chemical manufacturer using a saltwater well to dispose of hazardous materials underground
One of three criminal convictions under the Safe Drinking Water Act in Kansas
State environmental authorities and the US Environmental Protection Agency carry out inspections of manufacturing and other waste generating and waste handling facilities, monitoring compliance with discharge permits. These government agencies investigate the anomalies, concerns and whistleblower allegations indicating a business or individual may be acting contrary to the law, endangering the security of US drinking water supplies. The public relies on these agencies to hold the pollution generators and handlers accountable to the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The defendant in this case is a company engaged in the production of chemicals in Rice County, Kansas. As a manufacturer of hazardous materials, the owners, executive, supervisors and employees bear a level of responsibility to ensure their works and acts do not compromise the public health and safety. Kansas Department of Health and Environment monitors compliance with waste disposal permits, the terms issued to each waste generator and handler, defining the conditions required to protect local water supplies from contamination.
The public relies on waste generators to comply with these discharge terms, each and every time waste is produced and handled. Kansas authorities worked with the federal EPA agents to investigate this case, where evidence pointed to a breach of the permit. The effective working of state inspectors with federal investigators is key to maintaining safe drinking water, a hallmark of civilization.
The Wichita-based chemical company pled guilty in federal District Court in Kansas to one felony violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act and a second charge violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) in December 2015. The charges were applied for violation of the company's discharge permit, the defendant admitting to placing highly toxic chemicals acetone and benzene underground, in a well not intended or permitted for such storage.
The corporate defendant plead guilty on both counts, receiving a million dollar fine in the sentencing.
From the case notes, "The Resource Conservation Recovery Act created a “cradle-to-gave” regulatory scheme to track hazardous wastes from their point of generation to their final disposal.
The Safe Water Drinking Act identifies salt water disposal wells as a potential source of pollution to the nation’s underground aquifers."
Federal Fine: $1,000,000.
See last CrimeBox, "Three years in prison for hiding hazardous waste underground in Kansas", here.
SDWA CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
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