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PA FOUR PLEAD GUILTY TO HAZARDOUS WASTE AND WETLANDS CHARGES

Release Date: 07/11/97
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, JULY 11, 1997
FOUR PLEAD GUILTY TO HAZARDOUS WASTE AND WETLANDS CHARGES

On July 3, Edward T. Dlubac of St. Louis, Mo.; Edward Theodore Dlubac of Arnold, Mo.; Thomas Dlubac of Imperial, Mo.; and Meramec Marine Shipyard Inc., of Arnold, Mo.; pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis to charges including illegally disposing of hazardous wastes and polluting the Meramec River wetlands. Meramec Marine Shipyard employees occasionally pumped bilge waters from vessels and dumped containers of waste petroleum products into the Meramec River. Ignitable hazardous waste containing toxic levels of benzene were buried at the shipyard along with cans of ignitable paint waste containing toxic levels of chromium and lead. Exposure to benzene can cause cancer and lead exposure can cause damage to the human nervous system. Edward T. Dlubac faces a maximum of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000. Edward Theodore Dlubac faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $500,000. Thomas Dlubac faces up to 15 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $750,000. Meramec Marine Shipyard faces fines of up to $1.5 million. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.


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