Birmingham, AL – Sam L. Story, owner of Story and Company, a now-defunct solid waste collection service, avoided prison time but faced significant penalties after pleading guilty to illegally dumping asbestos-containing material across Jefferson County in 1991. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and resulting in a felony conviction, highlights the dangers of improper hazardous waste disposal and the agency’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations.
According to court documents, Story directed an employee to scatter 524 bags of asbestos-containing material at multiple, undisclosed locations throughout the county. Asbestos, a known carcinogen, poses serious health risks when its fibers become airborne. Illegal dumping like this not only contaminates the environment but endangers public health, requiring costly cleanup efforts and potentially leading to severe illnesses.
The EPA’s criminal enforcement action began on January 31, 1991, with the filing of a federal indictment. Story was charged with violating the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), specifically 42 U.S.C. 9603(b). This section of CERCLA makes it a felony to fail to notify the government of a release of a hazardous substance – in this case, asbestos – into the environment. The indictment alleged Story knowingly concealed the dumping, circumventing established procedures for safe asbestos removal and disposal.
Facing the charges, Story entered a guilty plea on March 19, 1991. The court sentenced him to three months of home detention, a relatively lenient sentence that also included 36 months of supervised probation. Beyond the restrictions of home confinement, Story was ordered to cover the monthly cost of the home detention program ($96.66) and pay a $50 special assessment fee. Crucially, the sentence also included a prohibition – stemming from a parallel civil settlement – barring Story from any future involvement in hauling or handling asbestos materials.
While the financial penalties and restrictions on future business activities represent a degree of accountability, environmental watchdogs often argue that penalties for illegal hazardous waste dumping are insufficient to deter future offenses. The cost of remediating asbestos contamination can run into the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars, and the health consequences for those exposed can be devastating. This case underscores the importance of rigorous enforcement of environmental laws and the need for substantial penalties to discourage such reckless behavior.
The Story case, though decades old, remains a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by improper hazardous waste disposal. The EPA continues to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of individuals and companies who endanger public health and the environment through illegal dumping and other violations of environmental regulations. The agency urges anyone with information regarding suspected environmental crimes to report it to their local EPA office or through the agency’s hotline.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Sam L. Story
- Location: Jefferson County, Alabama
- Year: 1991
- Crime: Illegal dumping of 524 bags of asbestos-containing material
- Statute Violated: 42 U.S.C. 9603(b) – Failure to notify the U.S. of release of hazardous substance (asbestos) under CERCLA
- Penalty: Three months home detention, 36 months supervised probation, $96.66/month home detention cost, $50 special assessment, prohibition from handling asbestos materials.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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