Donald Lownsberry, Illegal Dumping, MI 1998

Prudenville, MI – A hazardous waste scheme in Michigan landed Donald Lownsberry and two co-conspirators behind bars in 1998, exposing a deliberate effort to skirt environmental regulations and endanger public health. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and brought to light through court documents, involved the illegal disposal of paint waste containing methyl-ethyl ketone (MEK), a highly flammable and potentially dangerous substance.

According to the indictment, Lownsberry, along with accomplices Adams, Lord, and Stevenson, conspired to misrepresent the hazardous paint waste as non-hazardous hydraulic fluid. This deception allowed them to deposit the waste into a dumpster at Lakeside Stamping, Inc., in Prudenville, Michigan. From there, the illegally concealed waste was transported to a landfill in Waters, Michigan – a facility *not* authorized to accept hazardous materials. The scheme, investigators determined, was a calculated attempt to avoid the significant costs and stringent regulations associated with proper hazardous waste disposal.

The initial indictment in November 1996 charged Lownsberry with conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371) and a violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A)). Adams, Lord, and Stevenson faced similar RCRA charges, as well as violations of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(1)). Stevenson also faced a conspiracy charge. MEK exposure can cause serious respiratory issues and even loss of consciousness, raising serious concerns about the potential impact on landfill workers and surrounding communities.

The case saw a series of plea agreements and sentencing. Lownsberry entered a guilty plea to the RCRA charge in February 1997, receiving a relatively lenient sentence of 240 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine, and was placed in a pre-trial diversion program. However, the remaining defendants faced more severe consequences. In January 1998, Lord and Stevenson each pled guilty and were sentenced to 12 months of incarceration, followed by 12 months of probation, a $25 special assessment fee, and a $2,000 fine. Stevenson received the same sentence on December 1, 1998, after entering into a plea agreement. A superseding information filed in September 1997 also added a charge against Lord, Stevenson and Adams for negligently releasing a hazardous pollutant into the air, placing others in danger (42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(4)).

Table of Contents

Key Facts

Defendant: Donald Lownsberry, along with accomplices Adams, Lord, and Stevenson
Location: Prudenville and Waters, Michigan
Year: 1998
Crime: Illegal disposal of hazardous paint waste containing methyl-ethyl ketone (MEK)
Statutes Violated: 18 U.S.C. 371, 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A), 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(1), 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(4)
Penalties: Sentences ranged from community service and fines to 12 months incarceration, 12 months probation, and $2,000 fines.

This case underscores the EPA’s commitment to prosecuting those who knowingly violate environmental laws and endanger public health. While the sentences handed down may seem modest by today’s standards, the Lownsberry case served as a warning that illegal hazardous waste disposal will not be tolerated. The incident highlights the critical importance of proper waste management and the potential consequences of prioritizing profit over environmental responsibility.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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