KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A co-owner of a plastics recycling company in El Dorado, Kan., pleaded guilty Monday to mishandling waste chemicals and was sentenced to pay more than $118,000 in restitution to the Environmental Protection Agency, said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
In addition, the defendant was sentenced to serve 18 months on probation.
Sean M. Riley, 39, Andover, Kan., co-owner of Integrated Plastic Solutions, LLC., pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting negligent exposure to a hazardous air pollutant.
In his plea, he admitted the company stored hazardous wastes at its facility in the form of paints, solvents and other chemicals.
The paints and solvents contained ethylbenzene, which is classified as a hazardous air pollutant.
After becoming aware that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment was investigating the company’s waste handling practices, Riley’s brother and business partner, Brian J. Riley, allowed some paints and solvents to be dumped on the IPS grounds, releasing ethyl benzene and exposing employees to the risk of flash fire and explosion.
Brian J. Riley was sentenced in May to three years on probation and the same restitution as Sean M. Riley.
Grissom commended the Environmental Protection Agency and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.
