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KENTUCKY PLATING COMPANY, OWNER INDICTED
Release Date: 04/26/2001
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2001
KENTUCKY PLATING COMPANY, OWNER INDICTED
Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / hester.luke@epa.gov
On April 2, Kentucky Plating Company, Inc., (KPCI) of Louisville, Ky., and owner Charles A. Hardy were indicted on charges of violating the Clean Water Act. The defendants allegedly discharged wastewater with excessive pH level into the Morris Forman Wastewater Treatment Plant Sewer collection system without a permit. Specifically, Charles Hardy, the environmental manager of KPCI, allegedly hosed spilled chromic acid mixed with lime and water into a storm drain. This occurred after an employee mixed chemicals with approximately 40 gallons of chromic acid in a drum, resulting in a violent reaction that caused the Louisville City Fire Department to respond to an injury call at the KPCI facility. Hardy was told by the firefighters to have a hazardous waste company properly clean-up the spill. After the fire department left the scene, Hardy allegedly told company employees to wash the acid and lime mixture into the sewer. Environmental officials returned to KPCI within the hour and observed KPCI employees washing the mixture into the sewer. The pH test on the liquid running into the sewer had a value of between 13 and 14, exceeding the accepted level of 11.5. If convicted, KPCI faces a maximum fine of up to $250,000. Hardy faces a maximum of three years imprisonment a $250,000 fine, if convicted. The case is being investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Louisville. An indictment is merely an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law.
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