PA DUMPING OF POLL. INTO RIVER EARNS FOUR MONTH JAIL TERMS

PA DUMPING OF POLL. INTO RIVER EARNS FOUR MONTH JAIL TERMS

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1996

DUMPING OF POLLUTANTS INTO RIVER EARNS FOUR MONTH JAIL TERMS FOR THREE WEST VIRGINIA CHEMICAL COMPANY EXECUTIVES

Three current and former executives of Newell Specialty Chemical Co., a West Virginia chemical manufacturer, were each sentenced on May 28, in Wheeling, W.V., to four months in jail to be followed by four months of home detention and a $6,000 fine. The sentences were imposed for criminal Clean Water Act violations during their operation of Newell. The three defendants -- Garland A. Middendorf, currently chief executive officer and majority stockholder of Newell; Stuart W. Critchley, minority stockholder and former vice president for operations; and John B. Fabriele, Jr., minority stockholder and former vice president in charge of sales -- had pleaded guilty in January to one count each of negligently discharging pollutants into a tributary of the Ohio River above the limits allowed by Newell's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. Newell, which is located in northern West Virginia, manufactures specialty chemicals for private customers. The company itself pleaded guilty in January to conspiring to commit fraud in connection with the disposal of hazardous wastes generated during manufacturing and will be sentenced June 10. This case was investigated by EPA's Criminal Investigation Division, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and the FBI.

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