Hg-WG: Env crimes at LCP (chlor-alk)

["MICHAEL W. MURRAY" <MURRAY@nwf.org> (by way of ttweed@wildrockies.org (TonyTweedale))]

>From the EPA press list:

     !/TWO LCP OFFICIALS RECEIVE LONG SENTENCES/SCROLL
     FOR RELEASE:  FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1999

     TWO LCP OFFICIALS RECEIVE LONG SENTENCES

     Two former officers and managers of LCP Chemicals of Brunswick, Ga., a
     bankrupt subsidiary of the Hanlin Group Inc., of Delaware, received long
     sentences for their environmental crimes on June 2, in U.S. District Court
     for the Southern District of Georgia in Brunswick.  Christian A. Hansen of
     Highlands, N.J., former Chairman of the Board of Hanlin was sentenced to
     serve nine years in prison and pay a $20,000 fine.  This is the longest
     federal prison term handed down for environmental crimes.  Alfred R.
Taylor
     of Brunswick, former Plant Manager at LCP Chemicals was sentenced to six
     and one-half years in prison.  Both defendants were convicted on one count
     of conspiring to operate the plant in violation of environmental laws, and
     one count of knowing endangerment under the Resource Conservation and
     Recovery Act (RCRA).  In addition each defendant was individually
convicted
     on a variety of other environmental offenses.  Workers at the Brunswick
     plant were repeatedly exposed to imminent danger of death and serious
     bodily injury by working conditions which repeatedly exposed them to
     possible chemical burns, electrocution, and poisoning from inhalation of
     mercury vapors and from other contacts with mercury-contaminated and
     corrosive wastes.  LCP manufactured chlor-alkalai bleach, caustic soda,
     hydrogen gas and hydrochloric acid.  In the process, the defendants caused
     mercury and chlorine to be released into Purvis Creek.  Contact with
     sufficient quantities of mercury can lead to neurological disorders, and
     chlorine is a highly caustic material which can cause chemical burns in
     people and can be harmful to aquatic life.  Cleanup at the LCP site has
     cost approximately $55 million so far, and additional cleanup of
sediments,
     if feasible, could cost an additional $100 million.  The case was
     investigated by EPA's Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Fish and
     Wildlife Service with the assistance of EPA's National Enforcement
     Investigations Center, and was prosecuted by the U.S. Department of
     Justice.


     R-61                               ###