DUENWEG, Mo. (AP) - An Iowa company has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from the release of thousands of gallons of gasoline-contaminated water into a sewer system in southwest Missouri.
The Joplin Globe reports (https://bit.ly/1hZYQ3e ) that Des Moines-based Seneca Companies pleaded guilty Friday in federal court in Springfield to the negligent introduction of a pollutant or hazardous substance into a publicly-owned sewer system without any permit.
The plea agreement requires the company to pay a fine between $75,000 and $200,000 and publicly apologize.
In December 2010, Seneca employees repairing a gasoline line at a convenience store in Duenweg dumped gasoline-contaminated water out of a containment area into the sewer system. An 7,500 to 10,000 gallons were released.
Gas vapors in the sewer under the Duenweg elementary school forced the evacuation of 150 students.
___
Information from: The Joplin (Mo.) Globe, https://www.joplinglobe.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.