Polluters: Environmental Criminals, Consent Decrees and Other Pollution Cases in 2013

2013 Environmental Polluter (and Other Violators) of the Week
(More like bi-weekly, actually)

*True cases of environmental criminals and other violators and violations of environmental laws, regulations, statutes and pollution standards from real court cases and consent decrees

2015 environmental criminals and polluter cases

2014 environmental criminals and polluter cases

2013 polluter cases (or just scroll down the page)

2012 environmental criminals and polluter cases

2011 environmental criminals and polluter cases

2010 environmental criminals and polluter cases

2005 polluter cases

2002 polluter cases (Note: EPA's online files stop at 2003)

2001 - The EPA didn't save them!

2000 polluter cases

1999 polluter cases

Search your area for environmental crimes

The EPA and its federal, state and local law enforcement partners investigate and prosecute significant and egregious violations of environmental laws. These investigations involve, but are not limited to, the illegal disposal of hazardous waste; the illegal discharge of pollutants to a water of the United States; the illegal importation of certain restricted or regulated chemicals into the United States; tampering with a drinking water supply; mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering relating to environmental criminal activities.

People often ask us, "It seems like companies get away with polluting all the time, just look at Exxon and the Valdez!" While it may be true that some companies treat the environment, your community's well-being and your health like a doormat and act as though their crimes are nothing more than a public relations expense; individuals and companies are being caught all the time. And the penalties are severe! Follow Detective Joe Friday and read on to learn about the appalling gall of these jerks and their crimes.

It is EHSO's opinion that our society's obsession with money and instant wealth, combined with a generally apathetic public, and politicians more concerned with polls than pollution is leading to an increase in pollution and deliberate polluters. If you suspect a persistent polluter in your area, email us (or click here to use the EPA's report a violator form) for instructions to assist the EPA in catching him! To search a company's compliance history, click here!

Disclaimer: The following news stories are all taken verbatim from EPA releases, so don't even think of trying to sue us if you or your firm's name is here! We will WELCOME the publicity! Will your company?

2013 Polluter and environmental enforcement cases

12/20/2013		Florida Pesticide Producer to Pay $1.7 Million Penalty for Selling Misbranded Pesticides
12/19/2013		Energy Company to Pay $3.2 Million Penalty to Resolve Clean Water Violations in West Virginia / Chesapeake Appalachia LLC to spend estimated $6.5 million to restore areas damaged by natural gas extraction activities
12/19/2013		West Haven, Conn. fined for Illegal Sewage Discharges; Will Take Action to Significantly Reduce Sewage Discharges to New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound
12/19/2013		Chicopee Company Pays Fine and Ships over 40,000 lbs of Hazardous Waste, Protecting Human Health and the Environment
12/19/2013		Following Fatal Blast, Metal Recycler Required to Invest in Modern Technology and Company-Wide Protections to Prevent Future Accidental Chemical Releases
12/19/2013		EPA Settles Cases Against Two Eastern Sandusky County Companies for Chemical Reporting Violations
12/19/2013		EPA Settlement Yields Improved Ability for Nantucket Company to Respond to Oil Spills
12/19/2013		U.S. EPA fines agricultural products companies $74,880 for pesticide violations in Calif. and Ariz.
12/19/2013		Following Fatal Blast, Metal Recycler Required to Invest in Modern Technology and Company-Wide Protections to Prevent Future Accidental Chemical Releases
12/19/2013		NOAA, EPA seek public comment on proposal to disapprove Oregon's Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Program
12/18/2013		Darigold failed to report chlorine gas release in Portland to authorities in timely manner
12/17/2013		Oregon Companies Settle with EPA for Illegal Disposal of Millions of Pounds of Reactive Hazardous Waste
12/12/2013		EPA Takes Action to Protect Farm Workers in Puerto Rico; Bayer CropScience to Initiate Measures to Protect Workers and Pay $53,000 Penalty
12/05/2013		Seattle marine engine dealer agrees to pay penalty, change engines in federal clean air case
12/03/2013		Twin Falls fish farm settles with EPA for water pollution violations
11/25/2013		Supplier for Embalming Chemicals Takes Action to Improve Safety at Facilities under Settlement
11/20/2013		Puerto Rico Land Authority Agrees to Stop Clearing Wetlands in Guanica, Puerto Rico; Will Mitigate Damage Done
11/20/2013		EPA Fines Fisher Sand and Gravel $150,000 for dust violations
11/19/2013		Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to close contaminated wells, protect groundwater in EPA agreement
11/19/2013		Cabot Corporation Agrees to Spend Over $84 Million to Control Harmful Air Pollution at Texas, Louisiana Facilities
11/14/2013		Chemical Company Failed to Disclose Public Health Risks, Judge Rules in Favor of EPA
11/13/2013		City of Shreveport Agrees to $342 Million Sewer System Upgrade to Comply with Clean Water Act
11/07/2013		Settlement Collects Cleanup Costs for Birch Swamp Road Superfund Site in Warren, R.I.
11/06/2013		Shreveport Plant Installs Fence-line Monitors to Safeguard Workers and Local Community
11/05/2013		Newfield Production Company to pay $600K penalty to resolve Safe Drinking Water Act violations on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation (Utah)
11/01/2013		Progressive Nutrition of Norfolk, Neb., to Pay $125,000 for Settlement of Federal Pesticide Violations
10/31/2013		EPA Settles Clean Water Act Violations in Arkansas
10/29/2013		EPA Fines Phoenix-based Company $95,000 for PCB violations
10/28/2013		HBD/Thermoid Inc. Agrees to $371,075 Settlement for Alleged Violations of Clean Air Act at Chanute, Kan., Facility
10/28/2013		Former Winchester, Idaho hotel owner settles with EPA for asbestos demolition violations
10/28/2013		Methuen Mass. School Bus Company Pays $33K Penalty for Excessive Idling
10/25/2013		County Edge Dairy Inc. to Pay $20,000 Penalty for Clean Water Act Violations at its Inwood, Iowa, Facility
10/23/2013		Ritchie Enterprises Inc., of Sullivan, Mo., to Pay $30,000 for Failure to Use Lead Safe Work Practices and Notify Homeowners of Lead Risks
10/23/2013		Kansas and Illinois Pesticide Distributors to Pay Penalties Totaling $96,640 for Distributing Misbranded Pesticides
10/23/2013		EPA Orders Middletown, NY to Address Clean Water Act Violations
10/23/2013		EPA Reaches Settlement with Goshen, New York Company for Violations of Federal Toxics Law
10/18/2013		Dyno Nobel Inc. to Pay $257,167 for Clean Air Act and Risk Management Program Violations at Two Facilities in Missouri
09/30/2013		City of Tacoma settles with EPA for violating federal rules on PCBs in used oil
09/30/2013		EPA Obtains Warrant to Address Over 1000 Drums and Containers at New Jersey Facility; Ongoing Investigation Reveals Presence of Hazardous Materials (Photos Available via Web Link)
09/24/2013		EPA Fines BIA $136,000 for Keams Canyon Drinking Water Violations on the Hopi Reservation
09/23/2013		Griffin Bros. Inc. settles with EPA for violating federal pesticide rules in Salem, OR
09/20/2013		Texas Refinery WIll Pay $8.75 Million for Failing to Comply with Enforcement Settlement to Resolve Air Violations
09/19/2013		CITGO Agrees to Reduce Air Pollution and Pay Penalty to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations at Refineries in Louisiana and Illinois
09/19/2013		Hancock County, Iowa, Cattle Feeder Agrees to Innovative Settlement for Violating Water Permit
09/19/2013		Asarco agrees to pay $146,600 for PCB violations at Hayden copper smelter
09/18/2013		Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson settles with EPA for hazardous waste law violations
09/16/2013		EPA Strengthens S.S. Badger Consent Decree in Response to Public Comments; Penalties Increased for Failing to Cease Coal Ash Discharge to Lake Michigan at End of 2014 Sailing Season
09/13/2013		Post Foods to Spend More than $2 Million for Air Violations at Modesto Cereal Plant
09/12/2013		EPA Orders Work at Cameron, Smith Lake Chapter Mines
09/10/2013		Settlement with Town of Timmonsville and City of Florence will Resolve Drinking Water and Sewer Problems
09/10/2013		Columbia, S.C., Agrees to Major Sewer System Upgrades
09/05/2013		EPA fines Shell for Clean Air Act permit violations during offshore oil exploration in Alaska
09/05/2013		EPA Launches New Online Mapping Tool for Environmental Impact Statements
09/05/2013		EPA and Coast Guard Reach Pollution Control Agreement with Carnival / New Advanced Technologies Allow Industry to Comply with Emission Standards, Reduce Costs
09/04/2013		United States Reaches Settlement with Safeway To Reduce Emissions of Ozone-Depleting Substances Nationwide / Largest case ever under Clean Air Act's ozone protection requirements
09/04/2013		EPA reaches settlement with Safeway to reduce emissions of ozone-depleting refrigerants nationwide
09/04/2013		United States Reaches Settlement with Safeway to Reduce Emissions of Ozone-Depleting Substances Nationwide

09/04/2013		United States Reaches Settlement with Safeway to Reduce Emissions of Ozone-Depleting Substances Nationwide
09/03/2013		Public Availability Meeting Scheduled Thursday, Sept. 5, for Chicago Heights Boulevard Site in St. Louis County, Mo.
09/03/2013		EPA Requires HA International to Reduce Hazardous Air Emissions at Illinois Facility
08/29/2013		Corpus Christi Plant Agrees to Pay Over $750,000 to Improve Emission Controls
08/29/2013		Two California Firms and Owner Agree to Settle Clean Air Act Violations Stemming From Illegal Import of Vehicles
08/27/2013		Family Dollar, Inc., Pays $602,438 Penalty for Distribution of Misbranded Pesticides
08/26/2013		EPA focusing on industrial stormwater compliance, targeting a serious threat to Puget Sound water quality
08/23/2013		Big West Oil to spend $18M on emission controls to resolve Clean Air Act violations at North Salt Lake refinery
08/23/2013		Hazardous Waste Settlement Leads to School Cleanups in 60 Schools in R.I. and Mass.
08/21/2013		United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky Reach Agreement with AK Steel Corporation to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations
08/20/2013		Yakima fuel distributor violated oil spill prevention and response safety rules
08/19/2013		Companies in Illinois, Nebraska to Pay Settlements Totaling $84,387 for Distribution of Misbranded or Mislabeled Pesticides
08/19/2013		Idaho sugar company failed to prevent industrial stormwater discharges, violated federal clean water rules
08/14/2013		Abilene Products Co., Inc., Agrees to $90,660 Settlement for Violations of Clean Air Act at Abilene, Kan., Fertilizer Facility
08/12/2013		Salem, Mass. Contractor Faces Penalty for Violating Lead Renovation Rule at Kittery, Maine Site
08/08/2013		Meriden Conn. Company Pays Fine for Hazardous Waste Violations
08/05/2013		Port of Tacoma settles with EPA, Department of Justice for damaging wetlands in violation of Clean Water Act
08/05/2013		Maralex Disposal to pay $89,900 penalty to resolve Safe Drinking Water Act violations at disposal well on Southern Ute Reservation (Colo.)
08/02/2013		Fry's Electronics Fined $50,000 by U.S. EPA for Making Unsubstantiated Health Claims
08/01/2013		NEWS BRIEF: Final report available from investigation of injection wells at Lahaina wastewater facility
07/31/2013		Chevron to pay $384,000 penalty and improve emission controls to resolve Clean Air Act violations at Salt Lake City refinery
07/31/2013		Billerica, Mass. Company to Pay $2.6+ Million for Alleged Pesticide Violations
07/31/2013		STATEMENTS: Senior EPA Officials Pay Tribute to Ira Leighton, who Helped Shape Environmental Protection since 1972
07/31/2013		Compliance with environmental laws helps protect air, land, and water in communities across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington
07/31/2013		EPA Proposes Rule to Modernize Clean Water Act Reporting / E-reporting initiative will increase efficiency, ease burden for states and improve public access to data
07/31/2013		Springfield, Mass. Housing Authority Settles Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Case
07/29/2013		Fife, Washington ice manufacturer failed to notify emergency responders of hazardous chemical release
07/25/2013		Prudent Technologies to Pay $65,450 Penalty for Violations of Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule at Omaha Lead Site
07/25/2013		Sorrento settles with EPA for chemical management violations at Nampa, Idaho plant
07/23/2013		San Antonio Agrees to $1.1 Billion Upgrade Sewer Systems to Comply With Clean Water Act
07/18/2013		United States Reaches an Agreement with XTO Energy to Prevent Waste Spills from Natural Gas Exploration and Production
07/17/2013		Florida Man and His Corporation Sentenced for Wetlands Violations in Panama City
07/17/2013		Perma-Fix Northwest Richland settles with EPA for waste management violations
07/17/2013		Florida Man and His Corporation Sentenced for Wetlands Violations in Panama City
07/17/2013		School Bus Company to Install Automatic Idle Shut-off Controls and Pay Penalties under the Clean Air Act
07/16/2013		Laconia N.H. Company Fined for Failing to Notify Tenants about Lead Paint Hazards
07/11/2013		Nature's Best, LLC, to Pay $19,669 Civil Penalty for Violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
07/11/2013		Companies to pay penalty, reduce harmful emissions from Hagerstown cement plant
07/11/2013		Settlement with City of Wilmington, New Hanover County and Cape Fear Public Utility Authority will Reduce Sewer Overflows
07/11/2013		R.I. Property Management Company Fined for Failing to Notify Tenants about Lead Paint Hazards in Providence
07/10/2013		Shell Oil To Spend Over $115 Million to Reduce Harmful Air Pollution at Houston Area Refinery And Chemical Plant
07/08/2013		Hercules to Pay $2 Million Penalty for Violations at Resin Disposal Superfund Site, Jefferson Borough
07/02/2013		Kansas Department of Transportation to Pay $477,500 Penalty to Settle Violations of Clean Water Act at Three Construction Sites
07/02/2013		Deseret Generation and Transmission Co-operative agrees to resolve Clean Air Act violations at Utah Power Plant
07/01/2013		Energy Department settles with EPA for waste management violations at Hanford
07/01/2013		EPA Warns Against Use of Refrigerant Substitutes That Pose Fire and Explosion Risk
06/28/2013		United States and Tennessee Reach Agreement with King Pharmaceuticals LLC to Resolve Allegations of Clean Air Act Violations
06/26/2013		EPA Reaches Agreement with SunCoke Energy for Clean Air Violations at Plants in Illinois and Ohio
06/25/2013		Oregon and Idaho property managers failed to disclose lead paint hazards to renters
06/21/2013		W/T Land and Cattle settles with EPA for water pollution violations
06/19/2013		Settlement with Ash Grove Cement Company to Reduce Thousands of Tons of Air Emissions
06/13/2013		United States and Arkansas File Joint Complaint Against ExxonMobil for Pegasus Pipeline Oil Spill in Mayflower, Arkansas
06/13/2013		MassDOT and Contractor Fined for Clean Water Violations
06/12/2013		New Haven, Conn. Cold Storage Warehouse Fined for Release of Toxic Ammonia from Facility
06/11/2013		FMC Corporation to begin Superfund cleanup at former phosphorus processing plant near Pocatello, Idaho
06/11/2013		EPA Orders a Stop Sale of Hampton Manufacturing, Inc's "Antibacterial H-42 Clipper Cleaner"
06/06/2013		Miami-Dade Agrees to $1.6 Billion Upgrade of its Sewer System to Eliminate Sewage Overflows
06/05/2013		EPA Fines Phoenix Lamp Recycler More Than $70,000 for PCB Violations
06/05/2013		HarenLaughlin Construction Company of Lenexa, Kan., to Pay $27,286 Penalty for Failure to Use Lead-Safe Work Practices and Notify Property Owner of Lead Risks
06/05/2013		EPA Files Complaint Against Timmonsville, S.C. for Water Violations
06/03/2013		EPA Approves Plan to Control Sewer Overflows in Cincinnati Area / Will Reduce Releases of Sewage and Polluted Stormwater by More Than 1.5 Billion Gallons Each Year
05/30/2013		Public Comments Sought on Proposed Coal Ash Cleanup Settlement with Rotary Drilling Supply in Jefferson County, Mo.
05/30/2013		Tesoro to pay $1.1 million to resolve Clean Air Act violations
05/30/2013		Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. to pay penalty for chemical reporting violations at Aragonite, Utah facility
05/30/2013		Reddy Ice Corporation to pay penalty and improve accident prevention and preparedness at Denver facility
05/30/2013		Tesoro to Pay $1.1 Million to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations
05/29/2013		Farm Services Cooperative, of Shelby, Iowa, to Pay $21,450 Civil Penalty for Sale of Restricted Use Pesticides
05/28/2013		Wal-Mart Pleads Guilty To Federal Environmental Crimes And Civil Violations And Will Pay More Than $81 Million / Retailer admits violating criminal and civil laws designed to protect water quality and to ensure proper handling of hazardous wastes and pesticides
05/23/2013		EPA to be reimbursed $340K for hazardous waste cleanup at Lin-Electric Superfund site in Mercer County, W.Va.
05/23/2013		United States Takes Action to Reduce Hazards from Phosphoric Acid Manufacturing at Louisiana Facility
05/22/2013		Coffeyville Resources Refining and Marketing to Pay $300,000 to Settle Violations of Clean Air Act at Kansas Oil Refinery
05/15/2013		EPA orders gas stations to close underground injection wells to protect drinking water sources on Yakama Reservation
05/10/2013		Rhode Island Shipbuilder to Pay Fine and Take Actions to Reduce Air Emissions under Settlement with EPA
05/07/2013		Trucking company to pay $83,500 for gasoline spill in Lake County, Montana
05/02/2013		Rhode Island Company Pays $198,500 to Settle Clean Air Violations at Brattleboro, VT Facility
05/02/2013		EPA Takes Action Against Violators of the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule
05/01/2013		Rhode Island Boatyard to Reduce Air Emissions and Pay Penalty
04/23/2013		Beef Products Inc. to Pay $450,000 Penalty for Clean Air Act Violations at its Waterloo, Iowa, Facility
04/22/2013		U.S. EPA Requires ADOT to Reduce Pollution from Stormwater Runoff
04/22/2013		Clean Air Act Settlement with Wisconsin Utilities to Reduce Emissions by More Than 50,000 Tons Annually
04/22/2013		Clean Air Act Settlement with Wisconsin Utilities to Reduce Emissions by More Than 50,000 Tons Annually
04/19/2013		EPA: Compliance with environmental laws helps protect air, land and water in communities across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington
04/19/2013		Cement Manufacturer Agrees to Reduce Harmful Air Emissions at Colorado Plant
04/18/2013		R.I. Landlords Fined for Failing to Notify Tenants about Lead Paint Hazards in Woonsocket
04/16/2013		Grain Processing Corporation of Muscatine, Iowa, Agrees to Pay $129,000 Penalty for Clean Water Act Violations
04/16/2013		Seattle and King County, Wash. Agree to Upgrade Combined Stormwater Systems to Protect Local Waters from Raw Sewage Overflows / City and county combined sewer overflows expected to drop by up to 99% by 2030
04/15/2013		EPA action protects Big Windsor Reservoir from feedlot waste
04/10/2013		EPA To Hold Second Budget Call Due to Earlier Technical Difficulties
04/10/2013		EPA's FY 2014 Budget Proposal Maintains the Strength of Federal, State, and Tribal Core Environmental and Human Health Protections/FY 2014 Request Focuses on Transforming the Way EPA Does Business
04/08/2013		Dudley, Mass. Packaging Plant to Pay Nearly $485K Penalty for Environmental Violations
04/08/2013		Ethanol producer to pay $136,500 for risk management and chemical reporting violations at Aberdeen and Huron, S.D. facilities
04/05/2013		Tyson Foods, Inc., to Pay $3.95M Penalty for Clean Air Act Violations at Facilities in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska
04/05/2013		Settlement with Tyson Foods to Address Multiple Releases of Anhydrous Ammonia / Settlement requires company to conduct third party audits to reduce threat of accidental chemical releases, purchase emergency equipment for first responders
04/04/2013		Kingston, N.H. Concrete Producer Agrees To Resolve Clean Water Act Violations
04/04/2013		EPA Issues Clean Water Act Permit for Small Suction Dredge Miners in Idaho
04/03/2013		Portland Oil Re-Refining Company ordered to safely dispose PCB-contaminated oil or pay penalty
04/03/2013		EPA Settles with Hydrofarm, Inc. for Selling Unregistered Pesticides
04/02/2013		Collis Inc to Pay $31,379 Civil Penalty for Hazardous Waste Violations in Clinton, Iowa
04/01/2013		U.S. Air Force 611th Air Support Group Closes Banned Motor Vehicle Waste Wells at Three Alaska Sites
04/01/2013		Oregon fuel companies fined for federal oil spill prevention and response violations

Don't know which EPA Region You are in? City and County of Honolulu wastewater treatment plants' exemptions not renewed / Sand Island and Honouliuli plants will be required to upgrade to full secondary treatment 01/05/2009 - See the news about the SEC indictment of Waste Management former senior officers - Dean Buntrock and Phil Rooney and others! These guys were doing "Enron" long before you ever heard of Enron!

Ways to save money AND help the environment:

Save water AND money with this showerhead adapter, Save water AND money with this showerhead adapter it lets the water flow until the water is hot, then shuts off water flow until you restart it, ShowerStart TSV Hot Water Standby Adapter

Eat healthier AND save money: Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric 8 QT Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker, Warmer, Sterilizer, Pot is Stainless Steel

Protect your health with these:

Mattress Dust mite-Bedbug protector, 100% Waterproof, Hypoallergenic, Zippered

Handheld Allergen Vacuum Cleaner with UV Sanitizing for Allergies and Pet, Kills Mite, Virus, Molds, True HEPA with Powerful Suction removes Hair, Dander, Pollen, Dust,

Immune Support Supplement with Quercetin, Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D3 mmune Support Supplement with Quercetin, Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D3

GermGuardian Air Purifier with UV-C Light and HEPA 13 Filter, R GermGuardian HEPA Air Purifier with UV-C Light emoves 99.97% of Pollutants

HEPA Air Purifier, HEPA Air Cleaner with Washable Pre-Filter, AQI Display, ECO Mode, Sleep Mode, Pet Mode for Pets, Dust, Pollen, Removes 99.97% of Particles, Smoke, Mold, Pet Dander, Dust, Odors

Interesting Reads:

THE PREPPER'S CANNING & PRESERVING BIBLE: [13 in 1] Your Path to Food Self-Sufficiency. Canning, Dehydrating, Fermenting, Pickling & More, Plus The Food Preservation Calendar for a Sustainable Pantry

The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre! P The Backyard Homestead Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre aperback

The Citizens' Guide to Geologic Hazards: A Guide to Understanding Geologic Hazards Including Asbestos, Radon, Swelling Soils, Earthquakes, Volcanoes

The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming

Book: The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History Paperback

Polluters: Environmental Criminals, Consent Decrees and Other Pollution Cases in 2013

By EHSO.com, the site for free, objective, practical information about the environment, health and safety in 2026!