The United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued a September 30th news release stating Khaled Ebrigit of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Ohio to conspiring to illegally transport and dispose of hazardous waste at several apartment complexes.
DOJ states that Ebrigit paid and directed an individual to:
. . . dump drums of hazardous waste near dumpsters at several apartment complexes throughout Columbus.
Ebrigit allegedly knew the material was hazardous and did not possess a permit for disposal. In describing the activity, DOJ notes:
In total, six 55-gallon drums and 64 10-gallon drums were dumped at six residential apartment complexes in Columbus. Many of the drums were labeled with brightly colored warning labels with symbols and written statements indicating “flammable” and “irritating,” and with a detailed listing of hazards and precautions including but not limited to “[h]ighly flammable,” “[i]rritating to eyes,” and “[t]ake precautionary measures against static discharges.” Many of the drums were leaking.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Fire Department and Columbus Division of Police are stated to have responded to reports of illegal dumping and cleaned the various sites.
A copy of the news release can be found here.
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