Cenex Limited, Pesticide Disposal, WA 1995

Quincy, WA – Cenex Limited, operating as Full Circle, Inc., avoided more severe penalties after pleading guilty to a federal crime involving the illegal disposal of hazardous pesticides in Washington state in 1995. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a deliberate effort to circumvent environmental regulations and potentially endanger public health and the surrounding ecosystem.

According to court documents, Full Circle illegally disposed of the contents of a cement-lined containment pod – a mixture of pesticides and pesticide residue designated as hazardous waste – by spraying it across 100 acres of farmland leased from a local farmer. Investigators also discovered evidence that the company attempted to conceal further violations by pushing pesticide-contaminated materials over the sides of the containment pond and covering them with dirt, effectively burying the evidence.

The EPA initially charged the company and an individual defendant with three counts of violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The specific statutes violated included 7 U.S.C. 136j(a)(1)(A) – knowingly distributing an unregistered pesticide; 7 U.S.C. 136j(a)(2)(G) – knowingly using a registered pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling; 7 U.S.C. 136(e) and 7 U.S.C. 136j(a)(2)(L) – knowingly producing a pesticide without proper registration. The individual defendant entered into a pre-trial diversion program and successfully completed its terms.

On May 5th, 1995, Cenex Limited pleaded guilty to one count of the violations, with the remaining charges dismissed as part of a plea agreement. The company’s actions raised concerns about the potential for groundwater contamination and harm to wildlife, as well as risks to farmworkers and the public who may have been exposed to the improperly disposed of chemicals. The EPA’s investigation highlighted a pattern of disregard for established protocols designed to protect the environment.

In late June 1995, the court sentenced Cenex Limited to a 12-month probationary period and ordered the company to pay a $10,000 fine. Beyond the financial penalty, the court mandated that Cenex provide the City of Quincy with $3,000 worth of chemicals, likely as a gesture of restitution for the potential harm caused by their actions. Perhaps most importantly, the company was also ordered to report to the EPA the existence of any impoundment containing pesticides at *any* Cenex Limited location, signaling a desire to prevent future incidents.

Key Facts

Defendant: Cenex Limited d/b/a Full Circle, Inc.
Location: Quincy, Washington
Crime: Illegal disposal of hazardous pesticide waste
Statutes Violated: 7 U.S.C. 136j(a)(1)(A), 7 U.S.C. 136j(a)(2)(G), 7 U.S.C. 136(e), 7 U.S.C. 136j(a)(2)(L)
Penalty: 12 months probation, $10,000 fine, $3,000 in chemicals donated to the City of Quincy, and mandatory reporting of pesticide impoundments.
Method of Disposal: Spraying hazardous waste on farmland and concealing it in a containment pond.

GrimyTimes will continue to follow any further developments related to this case and the EPA’s ongoing efforts to enforce environmental regulations and hold polluters accountable.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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