Edward J. Pedalino, Pollution, MI 1999

Detroit, MI – Edward J. Pedalino, owner of Chem Strip Company in Detroit, received a six-month prison sentence in 1999 after pleading guilty to federal environmental crimes. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a pattern of knowingly discharging hazardous waste into the Detroit sewer system and operating an illegal hazardous waste storage facility.

Chem Strip Company specialized in stripping rust from metal parts, including tire rims and automotive components, utilizing highly corrosive acids and caustic chemicals. Instead of properly treating and disposing of the resulting waste, Pedalino deliberately misled authorities, claiming the discharges consisted only of harmless rinse water. This deception allowed the company to bypass environmental regulations and avoid the costs associated with responsible waste management.

The fraudulent activity didn’t remain undetected. The illicit discharge of such potent chemicals caused significant concern at the Detroit wastewater treatment plant. Highly acidic and caustic substances disrupt the delicate biological processes crucial for wastewater treatment, killing beneficial bacteria and potentially damaging expensive equipment. This posed a direct threat to the plant’s ability to effectively process sewage and protect the surrounding environment.

The investigation, which began in 1998, culminated in a sixteen-count indictment against Pedalino and Chem Strip. While some charges were later superseded, Pedalino ultimately pled guilty to two misdemeanor counts of violating the Clean Water Act (CWA), specifically 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A), which prohibits knowingly violating effluent standards. Chem Strip also pled guilty to one CWA count under the same statute, as well as one count of violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A), for operating a hazardous waste storage facility without the necessary permits.

In addition to Pedalino’s six-month incarceration and 48 months of probation, he was ordered to pay $150,050 in federal fines. Chem Strip Company received 60 months probation and was fined $401. The penalties, while substantial, represent a relatively light sentence compared to the potential environmental and financial damage caused by the company’s actions. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of strict adherence to environmental regulations and the consequences of prioritizing profit over public safety and environmental protection.

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Key Facts

Defendant: Edward J. Pedalino & Chem Strip Company
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Year: 1999
Crimes: Illegal discharge of hazardous waste, unpermitted hazardous waste storage
Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) (Clean Water Act), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act)
Penalties: Pedalino – 6 months incarceration, 48 months probation, $150,050 fine. Chem Strip – 60 months probation, $401 fine.
The illegal discharge disrupted wastewater treatment processes and endangered equipment.

GrimyTimes will continue to follow environmental crime cases and report on those who put profit before the health of our communities.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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