Johnstown, NY – Robert Carville, the former owner and operator of Carville National Leather Corporation, has been ordered to pay $369,693.58 in restitution to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The order, finalized on May 19, 2020, stems from Carville’s 2018 guilty plea to a felony count of illegally storing hazardous waste without a permit – a crime with significant environmental and financial consequences.
The Carville National Leather Corporation, a family-owned tannery, operated in Johnstown from 1976 until its closure in September 2013. Carville took ownership approximately ten years prior to the shutdown. Following the business’s failure, Carville abandoned the property, leaving behind hundreds of containers filled with dangerous chemicals. These containers were labeled with warnings such as “corrosive,” “acidic,” and “hazardous,” indicating the serious risk they posed to public health and the environment.
Approximately two years after Carville’s departure, the improperly stored chemicals began to leak from the abandoned tannery building. Given its proximity to both residential areas and a local creek, the EPA swiftly designated the site as a Superfund location. A multi-month cleanup operation was then launched to remove and remediate the hazardous materials, incurring substantial costs for the agency. The EPA’s investigation revealed that Carville, as the owner and manager, was legally responsible for the safe handling and disposal of these materials, even after the business ceased operations.
Legal Ramifications
Carville initially pled guilty in December 2018 to violating 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA governs the management of hazardous waste from “cradle to grave,” ensuring its proper handling, storage, and disposal. Storing hazardous waste without a permit is a direct violation of this federal law. While Carville received a 2-year probationary sentence in July 2019 from Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr., the determination of restitution was deferred pending further evidentiary hearings.
Following a December 2019 hearing where evidence and testimony were presented regarding the EPA’s cleanup costs, Judge Scullin issued the final order requiring Carville to reimburse the agency $369,693.58. This restitution represents the financial burden placed upon taxpayers due to Carville’s negligence and unlawful storage of hazardous materials. The case highlights the EPA’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for environmental crimes and ensuring the safe management of hazardous waste.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Robert Carville
- Crime: Illegal storage of hazardous waste
- Location: Johnstown, New York
- Year: 2020 (restitution order finalized)
- Statute Violated: 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Restitution: $369,693.58 to the EPA
- Penalty: 2-year probation in addition to restitution
- Superfund Site: The abandoned tannery was designated a Superfund site due to the leaking chemicals.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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