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MAINE CONCRETE COMPANY, PRESIDENT SENTENCED
Release Date: 03/22/2002
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2002
Durastone Inc., of Portland Maine, and its President and Treasurer, James R. Duhamel, pleaded guilty on March 12 to violating the Clean Water Act. Pursuant to its plea, Durastone was ordered to pay $19,705.35 to the Maine Hazardous Waste fund and was also ordered to pay a fine of $116,500 to the U.S. Government. The company also will serve four years of probation. As part of the sentence, Durastone was required to place an advertisement concerning its offense in several trade journals and institute an environmental compliance program. Duhamel was fined $2,500 and sentenced to two years probation. Durastone manufactures preformed concrete structures. During the manufacturing process, the surface of the structures is etched with a hydrochloric acid solution to provide a rough, slip-resistant surface. From approximately 1993 until late 1999, over 59 tons of used acid were flushed from concrete structures manufactured at Durastone’s facility and either allowed to stand on the ground or be washed into a wetland and stream area through a system of pipes. The discharge of waste acid into surface waters can be harmful to fish and aquatic life and can make surface waters unfit for recreation and drinking. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Portland.
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