Joseph Tietelbaum, Hazardous Waste, NJ 1987

Hoboken steel executive Joseph Tietelbaum was sentenced to probation and hefty fines in July 1987 after pleading guilty to illegally transporting hazardous waste, according to federal court records. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a pattern of improper disposal practices linked to Tietelbaum’s business dealings.

Tietelbaum, president of LMT Steel, found himself in legal jeopardy following the discovery of 59 drums of unidentified chemicals abandoned in a vacant lot in Newark, New Jersey, in March of 1987. Investigators traced the drums back to a warehouse in Edison, New Jersey, owned by TNT Realty, a company controlled by Tietelbaum. The abandoned chemicals sparked a federal investigation into potential violations of hazardous waste regulations.

A Federal Grand Jury in Newark returned a four-count indictment against Tietelbaum on March 3, 1987. The charges included one count of conspiracy (18 U.S.C. 371) and three counts of violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Specifically, the indictment alleged Tietelbaum knowingly transported hazardous waste without the required manifest forms to an unpermitted disposal facility – a clear breach of environmental regulations designed to protect public health and the environment.

The RCRA violations cited were sections 3008(d)(1), 3008(d)(2)(A), and 3008(d)(5) of 42 U.S.C. 6928. These sections address the proper handling, labeling, and transportation of hazardous waste, as well as prohibiting the disposal of such waste in unpermitted facilities. The government alleged Tietelbaum deliberately circumvented these requirements, potentially exposing the public and the environment to dangerous substances. While initially facing multiple charges, Tietelbaum ultimately pleaded guilty to a single count of violating 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(5), pertaining to improper hazardous waste transport.

On June 28, 1987, Tietelbaum entered a guilty plea, and on July 30, 1987, he received a sentence of 24 months probation. In addition to probation, Tietelbaum was ordered to pay a $50 special assessment and a $20,000 fine. While the sentence wasn’t imprisonment, the financial penalty and criminal record serve as a warning to others involved in the hazardous waste industry.

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Key Facts

Defendant: Joseph Tietelbaum
Company Affiliation: LMT Steel & TNT Realty
Location: Newark & Edison, New Jersey
Date of Indictment: March 3, 1987
Laws Violated: 18 U.S.C. 371, 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(1), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(5)
Penalty: 24 months probation, $20,000 fine, $50 special assessment
Evidence: 59 drums of chemicals found abandoned in Newark traced back to a warehouse owned by a company controlled by the defendant.

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Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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