Berger, MO – In a case highlighting the illicit dumping of hazardous waste, Raymond Williams, president of U.S. Technology Corporation (UST), was sentenced in January 2019, alongside his company and co-conspirators, for violating federal environmental laws. The scheme involved the illegal transportation of approximately 9 million pounds of hazardous waste from Yazoo City, Mississippi, to an unpermitted facility in Berger, Missouri.
According to court documents, Williams, seeking a solution for accumulating hazardous waste generated by UST’s blasting material leasing business, contacted Daryl and Penny Duncan in October 2013. UST leased blasting materials used to remove paint—often containing heavy metals like cadmium, chromium, and lead—from military equipment such as tanks and planes. The spent blasting material, saturated with these toxins, was routinely returned to UST by its clients. Rather than properly dispose of this hazardous waste, Williams allegedly sought to offload it illegally.
The Duncans, in turn, established Missouri Green Materials (MGM) specifically to receive the hazardous waste shipment. From October to December 2013, UST transported the 9 million pounds of contaminated material to MGM’s facility in Berger, circumventing both state and federal regulations governing hazardous waste disposal. The operation effectively placed residents in imminent danger from airborne contaminants, according to investigators from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
The investigation revealed a deliberate effort to avoid the costs and complexities of legal hazardous waste management. UST, under Williams’ direction, sought a cheaper, albeit illegal, solution by partnering with the Duncans to create a receiving site outside of regulatory oversight. This practice not only endangered public health but also undermined legitimate waste disposal businesses adhering to environmental standards.
The Eastern District of Missouri handed down sentences in late 2018 and early 2019. Daryl and Penny Duncan each received five years of probation and were ordered to pay $1,500,000 in restitution, shared with other defendants. Raymond Williams and UST were sentenced to 60 months of probation and also ordered to pay $1,500,000 in restitution, similarly shared. MGM received two years of probation and a $1,500,000 fine, again joint and several with the other parties involved. Williams’ sentence was to run consecutively with a prior conviction (case number 5:17-CR-00029-001).
Key Facts
- Defendant: Raymond Williams, U.S. Technology Corporation (UST), Daryl Duncan, Penny Duncan, Missouri Green Materials (MGM)
- Location: Berger, Missouri; Yazoo City, Mississippi
- Year: 2019 (waste transported 2013)
- Statutes Violated: 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(4) – Clean Air Act (related to hazardous waste releases)
- Hazardous Waste: Approximately 9 million pounds of heavy metal-contaminated blasting material.
- Penalties: Probation (up to 5 years), Restitution ($1,500,000 shared), Fines ($1,500,000)
The case serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with improper hazardous waste handling and the importance of strict adherence to environmental regulations. The EPA continues to prioritize the enforcement of these laws to protect communities from the dangers of toxic pollution.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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