Robert Roach, Violating RCRA, California 2014

Burbank, CA – Robert Roach, former owner and officer of All Metals Processing Company (AMP), was sentenced in June 2014 to a year and a day in federal prison, followed by nine months of home confinement, for illegally storing hazardous waste at a Burbank facility. The case, stemming from a decade-long pattern of non-compliance, highlights the dangers of improper hazardous waste management and the EPA’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations.

AMP, an electroplating business operating at 264 West Spazier Avenue, accumulated hundreds of drums filled with potentially hazardous substances. From 1990 through 2007, the company operated without the required permit to store such waste, a direct violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The situation came to a head in 2007 following an eviction dispute with the estate of Helen L. Powers, AMP’s landlord.

Despite a court-ordered agreement to remove the toxic materials during the eviction process in March 2007, AMP failed to do so, citing cost concerns. The company left behind a significant number of barrels, some corroded and leaking, containing hazardous chemicals. A subsequent inspection by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the EPA in June 2007 confirmed the presence of dangerous substances with the “substantial potential to be harmful to humans and to the environment.” Investigators found samples within sealed containers contained hazardous concentrations of chemicals.

A federal grand jury indicted Robert Roach and Tim Roach in February 2012, charging them with violating 42 U.S.C. § 6928(d)(2)(A) of the RCRA, specifically for storing and causing the storage of hazardous waste without a permit. The alleged illegal activity occurred between June 16, 2007, and June 27, 2007 – a period *after* AMP had been evicted from the property. Tim Roach later pleaded guilty and in September 2014 was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $165,000 in restitution.

The EPA was ultimately forced to empty and demolish the former AMP facility to remediate the hazardous waste left behind. The case serves as a stark reminder of the financial and environmental costs associated with irresponsible hazardous waste handling. Federal prosecutors argued that Roach knowingly disregarded environmental regulations, prioritizing profit over public safety and environmental protection.

The sentencing of Robert Roach demonstrates the seriousness with which federal authorities treat violations of environmental law. Beyond the immediate criminal penalties, companies and individuals face significant liability for cleanup costs and potential damages caused by improperly stored hazardous materials. This case underscores the importance of adhering to strict regulations governing hazardous waste management to prevent harm to communities and the environment.

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Key Facts

Defendant: Robert Roach
Crime: Illegal storage of hazardous waste
State: California
Year: 2014
Statute Violated: 42 U.S.C. § 6928(d)(2)(A) – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Penalty: 1 year and 1 day imprisonment, 9 months home confinement.
Co-Defendant: Tim Roach sentenced to two years probation and $165,000 restitution.
Location: 264 West Spazier Avenue, Burbank, CA

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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