SPRINGFIELD, MO – A Des Moines, Iowa-based petroleum and hazardous materials handling company, Seneca Companies, Inc., and two of its employees faced federal charges and penalties following the negligent release of gasoline-contaminated water into the Duenweg, Missouri sewer system in December 2010. The incident triggered a hazardous situation, forcing the evacuation of Duenweg Elementary School and prompting a large-scale response from multiple fire and hazmat teams.
According to court documents, Seneca was contracted to repair a gasoline line at a Casey’s General Store in Duenweg. A failure in the line had allowed gasoline to accumulate in a containment sump. Instead of adhering to established protocols – procedures the company *had* successfully used at the same location just a year prior – Seneca employees pumped the contaminated water directly into the municipal sewer system on December 16, 2010. This negligent act constituted an illegal discharge of a hazardous substance without a permit.
The discharge quickly manifested in dangerously high concentrations of gasoline vapors within the sewer system. Employees at Casey’s and the neighboring Rosebrough General Store detected the strong odor and alerted authorities. Atmospheric testing conducted by the Joplin Fire Department confirmed gasoline vapors exceeding explosive limits *underneath* Duenweg Elementary, prompting an immediate evacuation of the school’s 150 students. Fire departments from Duenweg and Joplin responded, pumping large volumes of water into the sewer to dilute the fumes and mitigate the risk.
Investigators estimate that between 7,500 and 10,000 gallons of gasoline-contaminated water were released. Notably, Seneca had previously applied for and received a permit to properly discharge treated water at the same Casey’s location in 2009, utilizing an air stripper system to remove contaminants. The failure to employ this same, proven method in 2010 is central to the prosecution’s case, highlighting a clear disregard for established safety procedures.
The case, investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Duenweg and Joplin Fire Departments, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, resulted in guilty pleas from Seneca Companies, Inc., and two of its employees: Gregory Richard Gill and Robert E. Morrison. Gill, who played a direct role in the illegal discharge, was sentenced on October 1, 2014, to 36 months of probation and a $1,000 fine. Morrison received a similar sentence of 36 months probation and a $100 fine.
Seneca Companies, Inc. received the harshest penalty: five years of probation, an $85,000 fine, and $2,707 in restitution. The sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences associated with environmental crimes and the importance of adhering to regulations designed to protect public health and safety. The company’s prior knowledge of proper procedures and its failure to implement them underscores the deliberate nature of the violation.
Key Facts
- Defendant(s): Seneca Companies, Inc., Gregory Richard Gill, Robert E. Morrison
- Crime: Negligent release of a hazardous substance (gasoline-contaminated water) into a publicly owned sewer system.
- Location: Duenweg, Missouri
- Date of Incident: December 16, 2010
- Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319 (c)(1)(B) – Clean Water Act
- Penalties:
- Seneca Companies, Inc.: 5 years probation, $85,000 fine, $2,707 restitution
- Gregory Richard Gill: 36 months probation, $1,000 fine
- Robert E. Morrison: 36 months probation, $100 fine
- Impact: Evacuation of Duenweg Elementary School (150 students), emergency response from multiple fire and hazmat teams.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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