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Lousiana Company, Two Men Charged with Illegal Oil Discharge
Release Date: 10/01/2003
Contact Information:
Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / hester.luke@epa.gov
(10/01/2003) TMR Exploration of Bossier City, La., Al Chiles II of Vivian, La., owner of a TMR subcontractor and Mack Thomas of Haughton, La., Operations Manager for TMR were each indicted on Sept. 24 on charges that they violated the Oil Pollution Act and the Clean Water Act (CWA). Specifically, the charges allege that the defendants knowingly discharged production wastewater without a permit from oil drilling operations in Caddo Parish, La., into the Red River in violation of the CWA, and that they also violated the Oil Pollution Act by failing to notify the appropriate Federal agency of the discharge of harmful quantities of oil. The discharge of wastewater containing harmful quantities of oil can injure or kill fish and wildlife and could impair the use of the waters for recreational or drinking water purposes. If convicted on all charges, Chiles and Thomas each face a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and/or a maximum fine of up to $500,000. TMR Exploration faces a maximum fine of up to $1,000,000. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (New Orleans) and the Louisiana State Police with assistance provided by EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Shreveport, La. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law.
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