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On April 24, 2009, Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Co. (Phillipsburg, NJ) and four of its senior managers were sentenced to fines and federal prison terms in what the EPA calls the longest federal trial in environmental crimes history. The defendants were charged with numerous environmental and worker safety crimes.
After a seven-month trial, a jury convicted the company and four managers of an eight-year conspiracy to pollute the air and the Delaware River, expose their employees to dangerous conditions, and impede and obstruct federal investigations. The government presented evidence that the defendants discharged petroleum-contaminated paint and water into storm drains and burnt excessive amounts of hazardous waste paint in a furnace. According to the EPA, the involved parties also altered accident scenes, concealed worker injuries, lied to officials, and maintained a dangerous workplace that contributed to several severe injuries and one death.
The company was sentenced to pay $8 million in fines and serve 48 months of monitored probation, requiring it to submit biannual reports to the court. Atlantic States is a division of McWane Industries, Inc. (Birmingham, AL), and this marks the fourth criminal prosecution and sentencing involving a McWane facility since 2005.
The four former managers that received federal prison terms are Craig Davidson, finishing department, 6 months; Jeffrey Maury, maintenance superintendent, 30 months; Scott Faubert, human resources, 41 months; and John Prisque, plant manager, 70 months.
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