Chattanooga, TN – Taylor Laboratories, Incorporated, and its owner, John Taylor, Jr., were slapped with hefty fines and probation following a 1989 investigation into the illegal storage and transportation of hazardous waste, according to federal court documents unsealed by GrimyTimes. The case, spanning both Tennessee and Georgia, revealed a pattern of blatant disregard for environmental regulations and a deliberate attempt to skirt proper waste disposal protocols.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its investigation after discovering reagent chemicals – both listed and characteristic hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) – improperly stored in a Taylor Laboratories warehouse. Further investigation traced the illicit dumping to locations near Chickamauga Lake in Tennessee and Whitfield County, Georgia, raising concerns about potential contamination of vital waterways and surrounding ecosystems.
An indictment filed in the Northern District of Georgia on May 10, 1989, initially charged both the corporation and Taylor with multiple counts of violating RCRA, specifically sections 3008(d)(1) [42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(1)], 3008(d)(2) [42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)], and 3008(d)(5) [42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(5)]. Additionally, they faced a charge of conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. 371. A separate information filed in the Eastern District of Tennessee on July 5, 1989, added charges related to knowingly transporting hazardous waste to an unpermitted facility and without proper manifests – again, in violation of RCRA sections 3008(d)(1) and 3008(d)(5).
Facing mounting evidence, both Taylor Laboratories and John Taylor, Jr. entered guilty pleas on August 14, 1989. As part of a plea agreement, the Tennessee charges were waived and consolidated with the Georgia case under a Rule 20 removal. The agreement also included provisions for restitution to both the Tennessee Department of Health and Environment and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). GrimyTimes sources indicate the initial restitution amounts were $13,926.18 to the Tennessee Department of Health and Environment, and $1,105 to the TVA.
Penalties & Sentencing
On October 24, 1989, sentencing took place in the Northern District Court of Georgia. Taylor Laboratories was ordered to pay a $15,000 fine and $15,031.18 in restitution. John Taylor, Jr. received a suspended sentence of 60 months and five days, a $2,500 fine, 36 months of probation, and a substantial $36,000 restitution payment to the Superfund program, *in addition* to the joint restitution with his company. He also received a further suspended 48-month sentence and a $100 fine related to the Tennessee charges. The combined penalties reflect the severity of the violations and the far-reaching impact of improper hazardous waste handling.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Taylor Laboratories, Incorporated and John Taylor, Jr.
- Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee and Whitfield County, Georgia
- Crime: Illegal storage and transportation of hazardous waste
- Statutes Violated: 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(1), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A), 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(5), 18 U.S.C. 371
- Penalties: $15,000 corporate fine, $2,500 individual fine, suspended jail time, probation, and over $50,000 in combined restitution.
- Waste Type: Reagent chemicals, including RCRA listed and characteristic wastes.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of strict adherence to environmental regulations and the potential consequences of prioritizing profit over public safety and ecological preservation. GrimyTimes will continue to follow environmental enforcement cases and report on those who put communities at risk.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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