William Dee, Pollution, MD 1989

Aberdeen Proving Ground Engineer Sentenced in Toxic Waste Case

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD – William Dee, a chemical engineer and top manager at the Chemical Research Development and Engineering Center (CRDEC), was convicted in February 1989 of federal environmental crimes related to the improper handling and disposal of hazardous waste. The case, stemming from activities at the Edgewood area of the Army installation, highlights a disturbing pattern of negligence and potential endangerment to public health and the environment.

Dee, along with colleagues Lentz and Gepp, all held key leadership positions within CRDEC, the primary tenant of the Edgewood facility. An initial five-count indictment in June 1988 alleged negligent discharge of pollutants – specifically hydro-sulfuric acid – into Canal Creek, a navigable waterway, *without* the required National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The indictment further accused the trio of knowingly operating an unpermitted treatment, storage, and disposal facility for hazardous waste.

While the charges regarding the illegal discharge were ultimately dismissed, a federal district court jury found Dee guilty of one count of violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Lentz and Gepp were each convicted on three counts of the same RCRA violations. The investigation revealed a systemic failure to adhere to environmental regulations while managing potentially dangerous chemical byproducts generated at the CRDEC facility.

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Legal Ramifications

The convictions centered around violations of several key federal statutes. Dee was found to have violated 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A) related to the Clean Water Act concerning the unpermitted discharge, and 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A), a section of RCRA dealing with the improper handling of hazardous waste. Lentz and Gepp faced similar RCRA charges. While the case did not result in imprisonment, each defendant received a sentence of 36 months probation *per count* (to be served concurrently), alongside 1,000 hours of community service *per count* (also concurrent), and were ordered to pay court costs. The comparatively lenient sentencing has drawn criticism from environmental advocacy groups, who argue it doesn’t adequately reflect the severity of the offenses.

Key Facts

Defendant: William Dee, along with Lentz and Gepp
Location: Edgewood area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Year: 1989
Statutes Violated: Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A)), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A))
Conviction: Dee convicted of one RCRA violation; Lentz and Gepp convicted of three RCRA violations each.
Sentence: 36 months concurrent probation per count, 1,000 hours concurrent community service per count, and court costs.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the responsibility held by those entrusted with managing hazardous materials, particularly within government facilities. While the penalties may seem minimal by today’s standards, the Dee case remains a significant example of early EPA criminal enforcement action and the ongoing struggle to protect the nation’s waterways and environment from industrial pollution.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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