Blades, DE – Patrick Procino, 66, of Laurel, Delaware, has been sentenced following a federal investigation into environmental violations at his now-defunct electroplating facility, Procino Plating, Inc. The case, brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware and investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed years of disregard for both state and federal environmental regulations.
Procino was sentenced on February 27, 2014, by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Andrews to one year of probation and a $50,000 fine for illegally storing hazardous waste without a permit. Additionally, Procino Plating, Inc. itself pleaded guilty to a Clean Water Act violation and received five years of probation. The violations stem from activity occurring between 2007 and 2010 at the facility located at 901 South Market Street in Blades, Delaware.
Investigators discovered that Procino knowingly stored approximately 450 gallons of highly corrosive liquid hazardous waste – a byproduct of the facility’s former decorative chrome plating line – without the required permits from December 2007 through May 2010. The waste, with a pH level of 0.8, met the criteria for hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA mandates that any facility storing hazardous waste must obtain a permit from the EPA, a requirement Procino blatantly ignored.
The scheme extended beyond improper waste storage. Despite claiming to have ceased electroplating operations, Procino Plating continued to process chemicals leftover from these operations through its wastewater treatment plant. From June 2009 through March 2010, the facility illegally discharged the resulting wastewater into the Seaford, Delaware treatment plant, which ultimately flows into the Nanticoke River. This action directly violated the terms of its Clean Water Act permit, which had been modified to explicitly prohibit the discharge of electroplating waste.
Federal officials emphasized the seriousness of the offenses. U.S. Attorney Charles M. Oberly, III, stated that “environmental crimes endanger the welfare of our citizens and natural resources, and where appropriate will be prosecuted.” David G. McLeod, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Criminal Enforcement Program, added that Procino’s actions demonstrated a “blatant disregard for federal and state environmental laws,” potentially endangering both the environment and public health. Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) also lauded the collaborative effort that brought the case to a close.
The prosecution of Procino and Procino Plating, Inc. underscores the commitment of federal and state agencies to enforcing environmental regulations and holding individuals and companies accountable for their actions. The case serves as a warning to others who may attempt to cut corners at the expense of public safety and environmental protection.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Patrick Procino & Procino Plating, Inc.
- Location: Blades, Delaware
- Statutes Violated: 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) (RCRA), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) (Clean Water Act)
- Illegal Storage: Approximately 450 gallons of corrosive hazardous waste stored without a permit.
- Clean Water Act Violation: Illegal discharge of wastewater containing electroplating byproducts into the Seaford treatment plant.
- Penalties: Patrick Procino – 1 year probation, $50,000 fine. Procino Plating, Inc. – 5 years probation.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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