Anchorage, AK – A former Alaska businessman was brought to justice for the illegal abandonment of over 200,000 pounds of hazardous waste, leaving a trail of environmental and financial damage in his wake. William Duran Vizzerra, Jr., the former president and part-owner of Precision Pavement Markings Inc. (PPMI), was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and ordered to pay significant restitution after pleading guilty to a felony violation of federal environmental law.
The case, which unfolded over several years, began with a citizen’s report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in November 2010. Agents from the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division discovered a storage lot in Anchorage littered with hundreds of drums and containers, many marked with warnings like “waste,” “flammable,” and “flammable liquid.” The containers were in various states of disrepair, some rusted, bulging, and stacked precariously. A subsequent investigation revealed the waste originated from PPMI’s road and parking lot painting operations, dating back to at least 2006.
According to court documents, Vizzerra knowingly failed to properly dispose of hazardous materials, including methyl methacrylate paint and toluene – a solvent used to clean painting equipment. Instead, in November 2009, he abandoned approximately 321 55-gallon drums, 179 five-gallon pails, and two 200-gallon totes of this highly flammable waste. Investigators also uncovered evidence linking Vizzerra to similar improper disposal practices from a prior pavement marking business he had operated.
Legal Ramifications & Cleanup Costs
Vizzerra was initially charged on August 9, 2012, with violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) – specifically, 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A), which prohibits the knowing treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous waste without a permit. He quickly entered a guilty plea on August 17, 2012. The consequences were severe. Beyond the 15-month prison sentence handed down on December 21, 2012, Vizzerra was ordered to pay $380,877.60 in restitution to San LLC, the property owner burdened with the cleanup costs, and an additional $13,185 to the Alaska Railroad Corporation for related expenses.
Government Response & Warnings
Federal officials emphasized the seriousness of the offense and the importance of responsible hazardous waste management. “The illegal disposal of hazardous waste puts everyone in our community at risk,” stated U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler. “The defendant in this case knowingly abandoned hundreds of barrels of toluene and other dangerous and highly flammable chemicals.” Tyler Amon, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program, added, “Adding insult to injury, he then saddled an innocent property owner and taxpayers with a total cleanup cost approaching half a million dollars.”
Key Facts
- Defendant: William Duran Vizzerra, Jr.
- Company: Precision Pavement Markings Inc. (PPMI)
- Location: Anchorage, Alaska
- Waste Type: Methyl methacrylate paint and toluene
- Waste Quantity: Approximately 204,750 pounds
- Law Violated: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) – 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A)
- Penalties: Up to five years of incarceration and a $50,000 per day of violation fine. Vizzerra received 15 months incarceration and $393,962.60 in restitution.
- Reporting Source: Citizen report to the EPA in November 2010
The case was a collaborative effort involving the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Environmental Crimes Section of the Justice Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska, and the EPA’s Region 10 Criminal Enforcement Counsel in Seattle. The outcome serves as a stark reminder that environmental crimes carry significant legal and financial repercussions, and that authorities are committed to holding polluters accountable.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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