Lackawanna Refuse Removal, Fraud, PA 1983

Old Forge, PA – Lackawanna Refuse Removal, Inc. and its associated company, Northeastern, have been convicted of federal crimes related to the illegal disposal of industrial waste and obstruction of a federal investigation, according to court documents unsealed this week. The case, originating in 1982, centers around the Old Forge Borough sanitary landfill and a deliberate attempt to conceal hazardous waste dumping.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began investigating the Old Forge landfill in November 1982, suspecting improper disposal of industrial sludges and wastes. Initial inquiries revealed a pattern of potentially hazardous materials being deposited at the site. However, Lackawanna Refuse Removal, Inc. actively denied to EPA investigators that any such disposal had taken place. This denial formed the basis of the criminal charge of making false statements to a federal agency.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Lackawanna and Northeastern colluded to not only illegally dispose of the waste, but also to actively mislead the EPA, hindering the agency’s ability to assess the environmental damage and hold responsible parties accountable. The indictment, filed November 16, 1982, included two counts: a failure to notify the EPA of the existence of a hazardous waste facility – a violation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), specifically Section 103(c) [42 U.S.C. 9603(c)] – and a charge against Lackawanna for knowingly making false statements [18 U.S.C. 1001].

Facing mounting evidence, both companies entered guilty pleas on April 13, 1983. A significant component of the plea agreement involved a confession of liability for the illegal dumping. Crucially, the companies also agreed to comply with an administrative order issued under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Section 3008. This order mandated that any proceeds obtained from the sale of land owned by the companies would be turned over to the Superfund, the federal program dedicated to cleaning up hazardous waste sites.

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Penalties and Aftermath

On May 10, 1983, both Lackawanna Refuse Removal, Inc. and Northeastern were each fined $10,000. While the financial penalty appears modest by today’s standards, the case set a precedent for holding waste disposal companies accountable for environmental crimes and false statements to federal authorities. The Superfund proceeds were earmarked for the remediation of the Old Forge landfill, though the full extent of the environmental impact and cleanup costs remain a matter of record.

Key Facts

Defendant: Lackawanna Refuse Removal, Inc. & Northeastern
State: Pennsylvania
Year: 1983
Laws Violated: 42 U.S.C. 9603(c) (CERCLA failure to notify), 18 U.S.C. 1001 (False Statements)
Penalty: $10,000 fine per company
Key Issue: Illegal disposal of industrial waste and obstruction of EPA investigation.
Plea Agreement: Included confession of liability and commitment of land sale proceeds to Superfund.

GrimyTimes will continue to follow developments related to environmental crime and the ongoing efforts to clean up contaminated sites across the nation.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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