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7/15/2026
WT Staff
 Knowledge of an environmental crime? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email info@wtny.us
July 15, 2026 453 pm EDT
CrimeBox
Historic Conviction Fiscal Year 2015; Case ID# CR_2770 (Missouri)
Hazmat handling company flushes thousands of gallons of gas, evacuates a school and local businesses. Sentencing included a fine, probation and a public apology.
The Defendants in this case are a company licensed for the handling of petroleum hazardous materials, along with two individuals in roles of responsibility for the incident leading to felony charges under the Clean Water Act.
In 2014, three Defendants pled guilty to discharging thousands of gallons of gasoline down the Duenweg, MO sanitary sewer drain, endangering the lives of elementary school children, municipal workers and local area workers with the toxic fumes and risk of explosions.
The Defendants were contracted by a retail service station in 2010 to repair a damaged gas line and clean up the spill. During the time the line had been leaking, 7,500 to 10,000 gallons of gasoline had pooled in a containment reservoir on the gas station premises.
A contractor's role in petroleum hazmat response includes assurance of safety for workers and anyone else in the vicinity. Petroleum fumes escaping from such operations are highly flammable. The Defendants were hired for their expertise in hazardous materials handling, entrusted with the final disposal of contaminants in compliance with state of Missouri and federal environmental laws.
The employees performing the gas line restoration in December 2010 pumped gasoline-contaminated water out of the client's containment pit directly to the municipal sanitary sewer system, causing a release of toxic fumes and risk of explosion in multiple sites along the sewer line.
Shortly following the release of gasoline down the drain, the client's employees were overwhelmed first. Gas fumes poured from the store's sinks, floor drains and connected appliances. The Duenweg Fire Department was called immediately. The Defendants, realizing their gaffe, dumped buckets of water down the sinks and floor drains in an effort to suppress the gas fumes.
Down the street, an elementary school and several businesses became overwhelmed with fumes. One hundred and fifty children were evacuated from school. Neighboring city of Joplin Fire Department Hazmat Response team assisted, the risk of explosion measured well in excess of the minimum threshold.
From the 2014 Department of Justice Press Release, "Joplin Fire Department personnel conducted atmospheric testing from various down flow sewer manholes from Casey’s and confirmed gasoline vapors above the lower explosive limit in the sewer under the Duenweg elementary school, causing the 150 students to be immediately evacuated from the school. The Duenweg and Joplin fire departments pumped large quantities of water into the sewer system to lower or dilute the gasoline vapors."
The Court was informed through the plea agreement, the Defendants had successfully completed similar work at the same location just one year prior. In December 2009, the Defendants received a permit to release treated water at the current client's location in Duenweg. The 2009 permit notes the Defendants' scope of work, including the need to treat the groundwater around the site with "a portable air stripper system before discharging to the City's sanitary sewer system." The Defendants performed the 2009 restoration with the very procedures that were not followed in 2010.
Sentencing included a federal fine of $85,000 for the company and $1100 between the two individuals in charge. A restitution payment was ordered to cover the expenses of the municipality. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abram McGull II. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division was assisted by the Duenweg Fire Department, the Joplin Fire Department and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Federal Fines: $86,100; Restitution: $2,707; Probation: 132 months.
See last week's CrimeBox here, "The VP knew in 2006. Acid wastewater discharged to City of St. Joseph was 7 times above acceptable limit for zinc. Justice was delivered in 2011 with fines, restitution and probation."
CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
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