Quantcast

LEGAL NEWSLINE

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Mo. AG alleges hazardous waste violations

Koster

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a lawsuit on Wednesday against a Laclede County, Mo., man for violating the state's Hazardous Waste Management Law.

George "Chet" Horman allegedly disposed of waste paints and solvents by using them to start a large bonfire on a gravel bar of the Niangua River in rural Laclede County. Not all of the materials were consumed by the fire and some of the waste solvents and paints soaked into the ground, which posed a threat to safety and public health and the environment.

Horman allegedly failed to clean up the hazardous substances, resulting in the Department of Natural Resources spending more than $8,000 to properly clean up the area.

Koster is asking the court to issue an injunction that prohibits Horman from further violations of the Hazardous Waste Management Law, assess a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day per violation, require that he pay for the cost of the cleanup, assess punitive damages not to exceed triple the cleanup costs incurred by the state and require Horman to pay all court costs.

"Taking care of our environment is a responsibility we all share," Koster said. "This office takes that responsibility seriously and will continue to vigorously enforce the laws governing the use of our natural resources."

More News