Lewiston, ME – Miller Industries, a Maine-based textile manufacturer, and its owner, Jo Ann Miller, have been penalized for illegally handling and transporting hazardous waste from a defunct mill property in Lewiston. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a deliberate effort to circumvent proper hazardous waste disposal procedures in favor of cost savings, resulting in worker exposure and potential environmental contamination.
According to court documents, the Lewiston Fire Department directed Miller Industries to remove hazardous materials from the abandoned mill building it owned. Rather than contract a professional hazardous waste removal service – a quote for which the company received – Miller Industries opted to handle the cleanup internally. This decision led to a series of violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
The EPA investigation uncovered that employees were exposed to dangerous substances during the unauthorized cleanup. At least one worker suffered chemical burns requiring medical attention. Investigators found numerous containers of decades-old waste, some of which were dangerously reactive and shock-sensitive. Disturbingly, reports indicated that some liquid waste was directly discharged into drains, potentially leading to contamination of an adjacent waterway. The company knowingly transported the hazardous waste without proper manifests, a key requirement under federal law.
Legal Ramifications
Miller Industries pled guilty to one count of violating 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(5) of RCRA, which prohibits the knowing transport of hazardous waste without a manifest. Jo Ann Miller also pled guilty to the same charge. The company was sentenced on June 8, 2007, to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay a total of $150,400, including a $75,000 federal fine, a $400 special assessment fee, and $75,000 in restitution to the Maine Hazardous Waste Fund. Jo Ann Miller received a sentence of 24 months probation and a $24,000 federal fine, handed down on August 3, 2007.
A Pattern of Disregard?
While the company claimed cost savings as the motivation, the EPA’s enforcement action highlights a blatant disregard for both worker safety and environmental regulations. The handling of highly reactive and potentially explosive materials by untrained personnel represents a significant risk. The potential for long-term environmental damage from the improper disposal of hazardous waste remains a concern, prompting ongoing monitoring by state and federal authorities.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Miller Industries, Inc. and Jo Ann Miller
- Location: Lewiston, Maine
- Year: 2007
- Statutes Violated: 18 U.S.C. 3, 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(5) – RCRA violations regarding hazardous waste transport without a manifest.
- Penalties: Miller Industries – 12 months probation, $75,000 fine, $400 assessment, $75,000 restitution. Jo Ann Miller – 24 months probation, $24,000 fine.
- Hazard: Decades-old, reactive, and shock-sensitive hazardous waste.
- Impact: Worker injury (chemical burns), potential waterway contamination.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments regarding potential environmental remediation efforts.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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