Cedar Rapids, IA – A former Iowa businessman has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally storing hazardous waste, leaving taxpayers on the hook for nearly $800,000 in cleanup costs. Richard Delp, 62, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, was sentenced on January 18, 2017, to 24 months of incarceration following a guilty plea entered on August 3, 2016, at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
Delp operated Cedar Valley Electroplating, a now-defunct facility in Cedar Falls, where he knowingly stored drums, tanks, totes, and vats filled with corrosive and toxic hazardous waste without the required permits. The illegal storage spanned from approximately January 1, 2004, until the business’s closure in September 2011. Despite repeated warnings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during civil inspections in 2005 and 2010, Delp failed to remedy the situation.
Instead of complying with environmental regulations, Delp simply abandoned the hazardous materials when he shuttered Cedar Valley Electroplating. This reckless act forced a costly cleanup operation funded by public resources. Investigators determined the total cost of the cleanup reached $789,138.03. The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division spearheaded the investigation, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Legal Ramifications
Delp was found to have violated 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the nation’s primary law governing the disposal of solid and hazardous waste. RCRA establishes a “cradle-to-grave” system for tracking hazardous waste, ensuring its safe management from generation to disposal. Delp’s actions circumvented this system, posing a significant risk to public health and the environment.
In addition to the 24-month prison sentence, Delp was sentenced to three years of supervised release following his incarceration. He is also mandated to pay full restitution of $789,138.03 to cover the cleanup expenses. The case highlights the EPA’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for environmental crimes and ensuring responsible waste management practices.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Richard Delp, 62, Cedar Falls, IA
- Crime: Unlawful Storage of Hazardous Waste
- Location: Cedar Valley Electroplating, Cedar Falls, IA
- Timeframe: 2004 – 2011
- Statute Violated: 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Cleanup Costs: $789,138.03
- Sentence: 24 months incarceration, 3 years supervised release, $789,138.03 restitution
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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