Jack Chandler, Hazardous Waste Crime, TX 2001

San Antonio, TX – Jack Chandler, owner and operator of Electronic Specialties Inc. (ESI), a metal finishing business, was sentenced in September 2001 following a federal investigation into illegal hazardous waste handling and discharge practices. The case, brought by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), highlighted a pattern of environmental violations impacting the San Antonio Water System and a rural property outside the city.

The investigation revealed Chandler repeatedly violated pretreatment discharge regulations, negatively impacting the city’s wastewater treatment processes. More seriously, authorities discovered Chandler illegally transported drums containing hazardous waste from ESI and other associated businesses to an unpermitted storage location in Comfort, Texas. Instead of properly disposing of the waste, Chandler simply abandoned it, leaving a significant cleanup and potential environmental liability for the property owner.

The legal proceedings began on December 20, 2000, with Chandler indicted on ten counts. These included violations of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1319) related to the illegal discharge into the San Antonio Water System, and violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) – specifically 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) – concerning the unlawful storage and disposal of hazardous waste without the necessary permits. The EPA’s criminal enforcement arm aggressively pursued the case, citing the serious threat to public health and the environment.

After months of legal maneuvering, Chandler ultimately pled guilty on April 12, 2001, to a single count of unlawfully storing hazardous waste. While the initial indictment encompassed a wider range of offenses, the guilty plea focused on the egregious act of abandoning the dangerous materials in Kendall County. Prosecutors likely accepted the plea to secure a conviction and ensure some level of accountability, given the complexities of proving all ten initial charges.

On September 12, 2001, Judge David Ezra handed down the sentence: 36 months of probation, 200 hours of community service, a $200 special assessment fee, and restitution totaling $42,500. The restitution was ordered to be paid to Apollo, MCM Realty Partnership, the owners of the Comfort, TX property where the hazardous waste was illegally dumped. This financial penalty aimed to cover the costs associated with the cleanup and remediation of the contaminated site.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the EPA’s commitment to prosecuting individuals and businesses who knowingly endanger public health and the environment through illegal waste handling practices. The Chandler case demonstrates that environmental crimes, even those committed by seemingly small businesses, carry significant legal consequences. The abandonment of hazardous waste not only poses an immediate threat but also creates long-term financial and environmental burdens for communities.

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Key Facts

Defendant: Jack Chandler
Business: Electronic Specialties Inc. (ESI)
Location: San Antonio & Comfort, Texas
Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319 (CWA), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) (RCRA)
Indictment Date: December 20, 2000
Guilty Plea Date: April 12, 2001
Sentence: 36 months probation, 200 hours community service, $200 assessment, $42,500 restitution
Crime: Illegal transport, storage, and abandonment of hazardous waste; illegal discharge impacting San Antonio Water System.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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