Queen Products Company, Hazardous Waste, KY 1991

Louisville, KY – Queen Products Company, Incorporated, a manufacturer of electrical components, and its Plant Manager, John Thomas Cottrell, faced federal charges in 1991 for knowingly violating hazardous waste regulations. The case, brought by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposed a pattern of illegal disposal practices that threatened public health and the environment.

According to court documents, Queen Products was charged with one count of knowingly disposing of hazardous waste without the required permits. The violations occurred at the company’s Louisville facility, where transformer cabinets and junction boxes were produced. Simultaneously, Cottrell was indicted on two counts related to the unlawful disposal and transportation of these hazardous materials to an unpermitted facility.

The investigation revealed that Queen Products failed to properly manage and account for hazardous waste generated during its manufacturing processes. Instead of adhering to the stringent requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the company allegedly opted for cheaper, illegal disposal methods. This put nearby communities and ecosystems at risk of contamination.

Both the company and Cottrell swiftly entered guilty pleas on March 20, 1991. The legal proceedings culminated in separate sentencing hearings in May. Cottrell received a 36-month prison sentence, with 32 months suspended, a $10,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and a 24-month probationary period – all to run concurrently on each of the two counts. He was personally held accountable for his role in the scheme.

Queen Products Company, Incorporated, faced a significantly larger financial penalty. The company was initially fined $307,500, which was suspended to $165,000, to be divided equally between the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Additionally, they were sentenced to 18 months probation, a $200 special assessment, and were required to cover the cost of any necessary remedial action to clean up the contamination. A separate charge originating in Indiana resulted in a $10,000 fine (suspended upon payment of $10,000 in restitution to the State of Indiana), another 18 months probation, and a $200 special assessment.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the EPA’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and holding companies and individuals accountable for endangering public health through illegal hazardous waste disposal. The penalties levied against Queen Products and Cottrell demonstrate the serious consequences of non-compliance with RCRA, highlighting the importance of responsible environmental stewardship.

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Key Facts

Defendant: Queen Products Company, Incorporated & John Thomas Cottrell
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Year: 1991
Statutes Violated: 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(1) – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Penalties:

John Thomas Cottrell: 36 months incarceration (32 suspended), $10,000 fine, $100 special assessment, 24 months probation.
Queen Products Company: $165,000 fine (split between US & KY), 18 months probation, $200 special assessment, cost of remedial action, additional $10,000 restitution to Indiana.