Charles E. Welch, Hazardous Waste Crime, CA 1991

Rancho Dominguez, CA – A former vice president of operations at ENV, Inc., Environmental Services Division, Charles E. Welch, was sentenced in 1990 for his role in the illegal storage and transportation of hazardous electroplating waste. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a scheme to bypass environmental regulations and dump waste at an unpermitted facility in Nevada.

According to court documents, Welch, along with then-president Michael Robert Speach, knowingly transported Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulated waste to Monarch Milling, a site lacking the necessary permits to handle such materials. The indictment, filed on June 21, 1990, detailed numerous violations related to the improper handling and disposal of hazardous substances. The operation was designed to cut costs by avoiding the expense of legally permitted waste treatment and disposal options.

Welch entered a guilty plea on July 20, 1990, admitting to two counts of the indictment. Speach, however, maintained a not-guilty plea and proceeded to a jury trial. The jury ultimately convicted Speach on all 15 counts related to the illegal waste management practices on September 27, 1990. Evidence presented at trial reportedly included shipping manifests and internal company documents illustrating the deliberate circumvention of RCRA regulations.

The sentencing phase saw Welch receive a $15,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and a 36-month probation period, handed down on October 15, 1990. Speach faced a significantly harsher penalty, receiving a $28,000 fine ($2,000 per count, plus a $750 special assessment), six months of incarceration, 36 months of probation following his release, and 300 hours of community service on December 3, 1990. Speach subsequently filed an appeal on January 12, 1991, challenging the conviction.

The EPA’s enforcement action underscores the agency’s commitment to holding individuals and corporations accountable for environmental crimes. Illegal hazardous waste disposal poses significant risks to public health and the environment, potentially contaminating soil, water sources, and air quality. This case serves as a stark reminder that non-compliance with environmental regulations will be met with criminal prosecution.

Key Facts

Defendant: Charles E. Welch & Michael Robert Speach
Location: Rancho Dominguez, California
Year: 1991 (indictment filed 1990)
Statutes Violated: 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(1) and 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Penalties (Welch): $15,000 fine, $100 special assessment, 36 months probation
Penalties (Speach): $28,000 fine, $750 special assessment, 6 months incarceration, 36 months probation, 300 hours community service
Waste Type: Electroplating waste
Illegal Disposal Site: Monarch Milling, Nevada (unpermitted facility)

GrimyTimes will continue to follow the outcome of Speach’s appeal and provide updates as they become available.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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