Fiberdyne Inc., Hazardous Waste Disposal, Iowa 1999

Cedar Falls, IA – Fiberdyne, Inc., a manufacturer of fiberglass wastewater treatment systems, and one of its top executives have been penalized for years of illegal hazardous waste handling and disposal. The company and its officer, director, and owner, were brought to justice following a federal investigation that revealed a pattern of knowingly violating environmental regulations.

According to court documents, Fiberdyne began operations in 1984, establishing facilities in both Cedar Falls and New Hartford, Iowa. The company generated hazardous waste, primarily spent acetone used to clean equipment and employees’ hands, and later, still bottoms from an on-site distilling process. Instead of adhering to proper disposal procedures, Fiberdyne routinely burned the spent acetone in 55-gallon drums on company property. When a distilling machine was purchased in 1992 to reduce acetone usage, the resulting still bottoms were simply discarded into a regular dumpster and sent to the county landfill.

The illegal practices continued for years, with Fiberdyne even transporting spent acetone between its Cedar Falls and New Hartford locations for treatment. The distilling machine, capable of processing only 10 gallons of acetone every eight hours, proved insufficient to handle the volume of waste generated. Crucially, the company *failed to notify the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)* of its status as a hazardous waste generator after relocating to its two facilities, a direct violation of federal law.

The scheme finally unraveled following a compliance evaluation inspection in May 1996. Investigators discovered the ongoing improper treatment and disposal of both characteristic and listed hazardous waste. This led to a February 20, 1998, indictment against Fiberdyne on four counts of violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) – specifically, 42 U.S.C. 6928, pertaining to knowingly violating hazardous waste regulations. Additionally, company officer Mandt was indicted on four counts of being an accessory after the fact, under 18 U.S.C. 3.

On October 14, 1998, both Fiberdyne and Mandt pled guilty to one count each. The sentencing, handed down on January 15, 1999, saw Fiberdyne sentenced to 36 months of probation, a $400 special assessment fee, and ordered to pay $60,000 in federal fines. Mandt received a four-month prison sentence, followed by 24 months of probation, a $25 special assessment fee, and was also ordered to pay $15,000 in federal fines. The case serves as a stark reminder that environmental regulations are not optional and that deliberate violations will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Table of Contents

Key Facts

Defendant: Fiberdyne, Inc.
Location: Cedar Falls & New Hartford, Iowa
Years of Operation (with violations): 1984 – 1996
Hazardous Waste: Spent acetone and still bottoms
Violated Statutes: 18 U.S.C. 3, 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) (RCRA)
Penalties: Fiberdyne – $60,400 in fines & 36 months probation. Mandt – 4 months incarceration, $15,025 in fines & 24 months probation.
Method of Disposal: Open burning, landfill disposal of still bottoms.

GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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