Newsroom
All News Releases By Date
Minnesota Motorist Charged with Illegal Transportation of Hazardous Waste
Release Date: 10/09/2003
Contact Information:
Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / hester.luke@ epa.gov
(10/09/03) Theodore John Beyer of St. Paul, Minn., was charged on Sept. 29 with allegedly violating Minnesota state law which requires a manifest to transport hazardous waste. When an investigator for the St. Paul Police Department stopped the defendant for allegedly failing to stop at a stop sign, he smelled chemicals emanating from Beyer’s vehicle and observed numerous bottles with hazardous waste labels. Testing of the contents of the bottles reportedly indicated that they contained hazardous wastes including cyclohexane, xylene, mercuric nitrate, sulfuric acid, formic acid and ether. Transporting these chemicals without a manifest interferes with the proper “cradle to grave” management of substances which have a potential to cause a variety of illnesses. Transporting them in a manner that allows the escape of fumes into a vehicle can impair an individual’s ability to drive and, in the case of ether, can create an explosion and fire hazard, should an accident occur. If convicted, Beyer faces a maximum penalty of up to three years in prison and/or a fine of up to $25,000. The case was investigated by the St. Paul Police Department with the assistance of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (Chicago). The case is being prosecuted by the Ramsey County District Attorney. The filing of charges is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law.
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.
