CROW, OR – A 1999 case involving the illegal dumping of hazardous waste in the forests of Oregon has revealed a pattern of negligence and deliberate environmental violation. Trevor Lamberson was sentenced following an investigation into the abandonment of hundreds of gallons of flammable liquids on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property, approximately ten miles southwest of Crow, Oregon.
The discovery, made in 1997, included numerous fractured 55-gallon drums leaking paint sludge, waste, solvents, and highly flammable lacquer thinner directly onto the ground. Investigators quickly traced the drums back to C&I Coatings, a commercial paint company that had ceased operations in 1994. While the company itself was not immediately charged, the investigation broadened to include its principals, Darlene and Duane Warner.
Lamberson, hired to dispose of 21 drums of ignitable hazardous waste, circumvented proper disposal procedures entirely. He illegally transported the drums – without the required hazardous waste manifest – first to a residence near Junction City, Oregon, where they remained for approximately a year. He then moved the drums, *again* without a manifest, to two separate, undisclosed locations where they were ultimately abandoned, leading to the environmental contamination discovered by the BLM.
Legal Ramifications & Sentencing
On September 4, 1997, Lamberson was indicted on ten counts of violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) – specifically 42 U.S.C. 6928, which prohibits the knowing treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous waste in an unlawful manner. He ultimately pled guilty to two counts. On November 18, 1997, he received a sentence of four months incarceration, followed by four months of home detention, 36 months of probation, and was ordered to pay $14,594 in restitution to the Bureau of Land Management for cleanup costs.
The investigation didn’t stop with Lamberson. Darlene Warner pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to knowingly store, transport, and dispose of hazardous waste on January 9, 1998. Duane Warner pled guilty to aiding and abetting Lamberson in illegally dumping commercial and industrial refuse on public lands, violating 43 CFR 8365.1-1(b)(4) and 18 U.S.C. 2. Both were subsequently indicted on ten counts each of violating RCRA on November 6, 1998. Darlene Warner received the same sentence as Lamberson – four months incarceration, four months home detention, 36 months probation, and $14,594 restitution. Duane Warner received 36 months probation and was ordered to perform 80 hours of community service, with no fines imposed.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Trevor Lamberson, Darlene Warner, Duane Warner
- Crime: Illegal Hazardous Waste Dumping
- Location: Bureau of Land Management property near Crow, Oregon
- Waste Type: Paint sludge, waste, solvents, lacquer thinner
- Laws Violated: 42 U.S.C. 6928 (RCRA), 43 CFR 8365.1-1(b)(4), 18 U.S.C. 2
- Penalties: Incarceration, home detention, probation, restitution, community service
- Timeline: Illegal dumping occurred prior to 1997; indictments and sentencing throughout 1997-1998
This case highlights the significant risks associated with improper hazardous waste disposal and the importance of strict adherence to environmental regulations. The abandonment of these materials not only posed an immediate threat to the environment but also required substantial financial resources for remediation.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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