Clinton Promise, Violating RCRA, Texas 2011

Lufkin, TX – Clinton Promise, formerly of H.O.T. Transport, a tanker truck cleaning business, has completed a sentence for illegally disposing of hazardous waste in Texas. The case, originating from a 2007 tip to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), revealed a pattern of unauthorized waste disposal practices at the company’s Lufkin facility.

According to investigators with the TCEQ’s Special Investigations Unit, H.O.T. Transport employees, including Promise, routinely discharged hazardous waste and wastewater into sumps, ultimately leading to contamination of an adjoining property. The investigation uncovered evidence that full tanker trucks of hazardous waste were regularly taken to an unpermitted facility for disposal, circumventing federal and state environmental regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) took over the case, leading to formal charges against Promise on July 1, 2011. He was indicted on two counts of violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), specifically 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A), which prohibits the knowing treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous waste without a required permit.

Promise ultimately entered a guilty plea to the charges, acknowledging his role in the illegal disposal scheme. The prosecution highlighted the potential environmental and public health risks associated with the improper handling of hazardous materials. The deliberate circumvention of permitting requirements was presented as a significant factor in the severity of the offense.

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Sentencing and Penalties

On November 22, 2011, Promise was sentenced to 36 months of probation by the federal court. In addition to probation, he was ordered to pay a $3,000 federal fine. While the sentence isn’t custodial, federal authorities emphasize the importance of holding individuals accountable for environmental crimes and deterring similar violations in the future.

Key Facts

Defendant: Clinton Promise
Company: H.O.T. Transport (tanker truck cleaning)
Location: Lufkin, Texas
Statutes Violated: 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) – RCRA violation (unpermitted hazardous waste disposal)
Penalty: 36 months probation and $3,000 fine
Investigation Origin: Tip from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts by the EPA and state agencies to combat illegal hazardous waste disposal and protect the environment. GrimyTimes will continue to follow developments in environmental crime cases and provide updates as they become available.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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