Brooklyn, IL – The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis was sentenced in December 1997 following a multi-year investigation into illegal discharges of pollutants into the Cahokia Canal, a tributary of the Mississippi River. The case, brought by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a pattern of negligence and deliberate failure to report environmental damage stemming from the company’s locomotive cleaning operations.
According to court documents, Terminal Railroad, which operates a locomotive cleaning facility in Brooklyn, Illinois, utilized solvents to clean locomotives. These solvents, along with waste oil and other byproducts, were channeled into an on-site oil-water separator. However, as early as 1992, the company was aware that this separator was malfunctioning, effectively bypassing treatment and allowing untreated waste to flow directly into the Cahokia Canal. Despite this knowledge, Terminal Railroad failed to take corrective action or notify any relevant environmental authorities.
The unlawful discharges continued unabated for two years until 1994, when an anonymous complaint prompted an investigation by the Illinois EPA. Investigators discovered that the modified railroad tank car intended as a separator was not functioning as designed, leading to a consistent stream of pollutants entering the waterway. The lack of a proper permit for any discharge further compounded the violations.
Legal Ramifications
On July 24, 1997, Terminal Railroad was formally charged with two felony counts of violating the Clean Water Act (CWA). Specifically, the charges centered around the illegal discharge of waste oil and solvents (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A)) and the failure to notify the appropriate authorities as mandated by law. The company subsequently pled guilty to both counts on September 3, 1997.
Sentencing and Restitution
On December 18, 1997, the court handed down the sentence: a period of 36 months probation, a substantial fine of $500,000, and an order to pay restitution to the Illinois EPA in the amount of $26,073. The restitution covered the emergency response costs incurred by the agency in addressing the pollution caused by Terminal Railroad’s negligence. This case serves as a stark reminder of the legal and financial consequences of environmental crimes and the importance of regulatory compliance.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis
- Location: Brooklyn, Illinois
- Crime: Illegal discharge of pollutants into the Cahokia Canal, a tributary of the Mississippi River, and failure to report.
- Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) – Clean Water Act
- Timeline: Malfunction discovered 1992, complaint received 1994, charges filed 1997, sentencing 1997.
- Penalties: 36 months probation, $500,000 fine, $26,073 restitution to Illinois EPA.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow environmental crime cases and report on efforts to protect our waterways.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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