[imc-st.louis] Fwd: Dumping Oil in the River and Election Day

[Ben West]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rodney Cook <rodacook at yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Subject: [marinevilla] Dumping Oil in the River and Election Day
To: "marinevilla at yahoogroups.com" <marinevilla at yahoogroups.com>


Don't forget to vote today!

Also, not sure how many heard or read about the oil dumping into the
river by some of our business neighbors.  I'll be interested to see
how the EPA deals with the air pollution in our neighborhood in the
future...

St. Louis: River terminal, two employees plead guilty to dumping oil in river

8:38 PM Fri, Apr 03, 2009 | Permalink

US Attorney news release

LOCAL RIVER TERMINAL & TWO EMPLOYEES PLEAD GUILTY TO VIOLATIONS OF THE
CLEAN WATER ACT

American River Transportation company pays a 3 million dollar fine to
the United States.

St. Louis, MO: American River Transportation Company and two employees
pleaded guilty to the illegal discharge of oil into the Mississippi
River, and concealing the source of the oil when questioned by
emergency responders, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway
announced today.

"Discharging pollutants into the Mississippi has serious consequences
for the environment," said Hanaway. "This type of reckless disregard
for our rivers and streams has far reaching effects to many areas, not
just locally."

"The Mississippi River is one of our nation's greatest environmental
and economic resources," said Catherine McCabe, EPA Acting Assistant
Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "The
defendants not only risked polluting the River through their illegal
discharge of oil, but also tried to cover it up by misleading the
authorities who responded. Today's guilty pleas demonstrate that
companies and their managers will be held responsible for
environmental crimes."

On June 19, 2007, a release of oil was found in a cove of the
Mississippi River adjoining the ARTCO Property. Terminal manager
Justin Baker reported it to the National Response Center and other
emergency responders. When questioned about the source of the oil,
both Baker and maintenance supervisor Steve Keilwitz denied knowing
the source of the oil. They both knew the source of the oil to be the
ARTCO facility based on past events at that facility.

Between April 2004 and June 19, 2007, American River Transportation
Company discharged wastewater with oil and grease above permit limits
into the Metropolitan Sewer District, and ultimately into the
Mississippi River, and directly discharged other pollutants contained
in their waste water into the Mississippi River.

American River Transportation Company (ARTCO), owns and operates
several terminals in the St. Louis area including the south terminal
located at 4528 South Broadway, St. Louis, 63111. ARTCO operates line
boat vessels, hopper barges, harbor and fleeting services and a
fueling terminal. The South Broadway facility also cleans these barges
of residue, which includes grain as well as fertilizer and oil and
other oil based product. Justin Baker was the terminal manager and
Steve Keilwitz was the maintenance superintendent during this period
of time. Baker has since retired, Keilwitz is still employed with the
company.

American River Transportation Company pleaded guilty to knowingly
violating the Clean Water Act, and paid a $3 million fine today.

Justin Baker, 60, Dexter, MO, and Steve Keilwitz, 51, Sappington, MO,
each pleaded guilty to one felony count of making a false statement.
They appeared before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton.

Baker and Keilwitz each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison
and/or fines up to $250,000, when they are sentenced on June 19, 2009.

Hanaway commended the work on the case by the Environment Protection
Agency Region 7 Criminal Investigation Division and Emergency Response
Division, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the United
States Coast Guard, the Metropolitan Sewer District; and First
Assistant United States Attorney Michael W. Reap and Special Assistant
United States Attorney Anne Rauch are handling the case for the U.S.
Attorney's Office.



With sincere, yet colorful thoughts of pterodactyls,

Rodney Cook


-- 
Ben West
westbywest at gmail.com