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PA MASSACHUSETTS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO OIL SPILL CHARGE

Release Date: 3/28/97
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PA MASSACHUSETTS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO OIL SPILL CHARGE

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1997

MASSACHUSETTS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO OIL SPILL CHARGE

Francis L. Empey, former owner of a marine dredging business that operated from Fish Island in New Bedford, Mass., pleaded guilty on March 17, in U.S. District Court in Boston, Mass., to one charge of negligently discharging oil into New Bedford Harbor in violation of the federal Clean Water Act. The charge arose from an oil spill that occurred when the hydraulic barge "Smithtown" sank in 1991. The clean-up, which ended in November 1991, resulted in the recovery of 1600 gallons of oil. Empey owned a number of other vessels, all of which, due to poor maintenance, sank in New Bedford Harbor. The case was investigated by EPA's Criminal Investigation Division and state and local law enforcement agencies.

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