"6 Freedom Owners, Managers, Employees Charged; Company Takes Plea Deal"

"Federal prosecutors charged Freedom Industries and six of its owners, managers and employees with criminal violations of the Clean Water Act related to the January 2014 chemical leak that contaminated the drinking water of 300,000 people in Charleston and surrounding communities.

Dennis P. Farrell, William E. Tis, Charles E. Herzing and Gary L. Southern were each charged with three counts of violating federal environmental laws. Each man is charged with failing to meet a 'reasonable standard of care' in running the company.

'Their negligence resulted in and caused the discharge of a pollutant, that is, MCHM, from point sources into the Elk River,' stated an indictment, unsealed today by U.S. Magistrate Judge Dwane L. Tinsley."

David Gutman reports for the Charleston Gazette December 17, 2014 with Ken Ward Jr.

SEE ALSO:

"Owners of Chemical Firm Charged in Elk River Spill in West Virginia" (New York Times)