Scott Harpole, Violating RCRA, Georgia 2008

Dawson, Georgia – Scott Harpole, former owner of Circle Environmental, Inc., was sentenced to 24 months probation for knowingly violating federal hazardous waste regulations. The case, originating from an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criminal investigation, highlights a pattern of improper handling and transportation of dangerous materials related to Harpole’s dry cleaning business.

Harpole purchased the Circle Environmental franchise in 1994, operating the business out of Dawson, GA, after acquiring it from a college roommate who initially established the company in Columbia, South Carolina. The business specialized in cleaning and processing solvent-soaked rags from various clients. Around 2006, a decline in contracts began to financially strain the operation.

The EPA investigation revealed that beginning in 2005, Harpole directed the transfer of an undisclosed quantity of waste materials from the South Carolina facility to the Dawson location. Thirteen truckloads of drums and containers arrived in March and April of that year. A critical issue arose in November 2005 when Harpole ceased using perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene) in his dry cleaning process. This resulted in the accumulation of over 50 drums of waste perchloroethylene – a substance classified as hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

Instead of properly managing this hazardous waste, Harpole relocated his dry cleaning operations in 2006, also moving the 50+ drums of waste perchloroethylene from a location on Crawford Street to a warehouse on 5th Avenue, SW in Dawson. This relocation occurred without adherence to required safety protocols or legal mandates for handling and transporting hazardous materials. The EPA’s investigation determined that Harpole failed to secure necessary permits for storing and treating the waste, and crucially, transported the materials without the required hazardous waste manifest.

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Legal Ramifications

On October 29, 2008, Harpole was indicted on three counts of violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(1) – knowingly transporting hazardous waste; 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) – knowingly treating, storing, or disposing of hazardous waste without a permit; and 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(5) – knowingly transporting hazardous waste without a manifest. Harpole ultimately pled guilty to all charges. While no fine was imposed, the 24-month probation sentence serves as a legal consequence for his actions.

Key Facts

Defendant: Scott Harpole
Business: Circle Environmental, Inc.
Location: Dawson, Georgia
Hazardous Waste: Perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene)
RCRA Violations: Illegal transportation, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste.
Sentence: 24 months probation, no fine.

This case underscores the EPA’s commitment to enforcing RCRA regulations and holding individuals accountable for endangering public health and the environment through the improper handling of hazardous waste. The lack of a fine in this case may draw criticism, but the probation sentence signifies a legal reprimand for the violations committed.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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