Newsroom
All News Releases By Date
PA TAMPA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO HAZARDOUS WASTE CHARGES
Release Date: 10/09/98
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1998
TAMPA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO HAZARDOUS WASTE CHARGES
William M. Shaw, of Tampa, Fla., pleaded guilty on Sept. 30, in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa to violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Shaw was owner and president of the now defunct Danmark companies. The defendant knowingly accepted loads of used oil and sludge contaminated with hazardous wastes at his facility in Tampa without a permit to treat, store, transport or dispose of wastes containing hazardous substances. Furthermore, Shaw specifically notified the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that Danmark would not be handling or accepting hazardous waste. In August 1993, Shaw abandoned the Danmark facility leaving behind 80,000 gallons of liquid waste and 150 tons of solid waste, all of which were contaminated with hazardous substances including benzene. Benzene is a known cause of caner in humans. The cost of the cleanup was over $500,000 for the federal government. When sentenced, Shaw faces a maximum of up to five years imprisonment and/or fines of up to $4.5 million. He may also be sued in civil court for the cost of clean-up. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, the FBI, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department.
R-139 ###
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.
