Business enterprise operator will get 1 yr sentence for dumping industrial waste into Flint’s sewer process

FLINT, Mich. – The male located responsible of dumping 47 million gallons of industrial squander into Flint’s sewer technique was sentenced to one yr in prison.

Read: Proprietor of Oil Chem Inc. sentenced for illegal dumping of waste into Flint sewer technique

“I imagine the sentence was a small mild for the a long time of abuse he has put into our setting,” said Flint mayor Sheldon Neeley.

Prosecutors claim Robert Massey illegally dumped the squander for approximately 10 yrs. Neeley mentioned he’s drained of his neighborhood getting to be a dumping ground for environmental lawbreakers.

“We won’t know what comes about in the extensive-phrase results of his failures for a incredibly very long time,” Neeley stated.

At the heart of the controversy is Oil Chem. Inc., a specialty lubrication maker. In accordance to its website, Oil Chem. “firmly believes” they are “obligated to treatment for the atmosphere.”

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Federal prosecutors stated Oil Chem Inc. accepted tanker truckloads of landfill leachate from different landfills. Courtroom paperwork claim Massey directed Oil Chem employees to discharge the leachate at the shut of just about every company day, which permitted the squander to stream from a storage tank to the sewer procedure.

At least a single of the landfills contained PCBs, which are known to be harmful to human overall health.

“Bottom line is they identified they lead to most cancers,” stated Monthly bill Topolski, with Brighton Analytical. “There is no remedy for PCBs. They are a for good chemical.”

Neeley is concerned the consequences of Massey’s crime will final lengthier than his sentence.

“This went on for the much better portion of a 10 years prior to he was stopped,” Neeley stated. “But undoubtedly, the crime he has committed will go on for a lengthy time till we can remediate this in our surroundings.”

Massey pled guilty on Jan. 14 to violating the Cleanse Water Act.

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Examine: Chemical business accused of illegally dumping truckloads of waste into Flint sewer procedure