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FORMER BUSINESSMAN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH EPA SUPERFUND CLEAN UP IN NORTH WALES, PA.

Release Date: 02/01/2008
Contact Information: DOJ/David Strenberg (215) [email protected]

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Patrick L. Meehan today announced the filing of a one-count information1
charging George H. Chittenden with violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in connection with the storage of hazardous waste in 2004 and 2005 without a permit at Chittenden’s former Spra-Fin., Inc. powder-coating and painting facility in North Wales, Pa.

According to the information, Chittenden owned two powder-coating facilities in Montgomery County. He closed Spra-Fin in mid- 2004 and transferred operations to his other plant. However, Chittenden left behind various kinds of waste at Spra-Fin, including hazardous solvents, paints and finishes. These were left stored in various areas, including outdoors on a concrete pad, in a fenced area, and in unlocked trailers for more than a year until they were discovered by employees of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in April of 2005. Some drums of hazardous waste had been left outdoors a short distance from railroad tracks used daily by SEPTA’s R5 line. The defendant began an EPA-supervised clean up in the summer of 2005, but was unable to complete it. EPA completed the clean up in the fall of 2005.

NAME	ADDRESS	AGE
George H. Chittenden	Newtown Square, Pa.	63

If convicted, Chittenden faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, three years supervised release, and a special assessment of $100.


1 The information represents an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. All of the facts summarized in this press release are accusations only.

The case was investigated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division. The case has been assigned to Special Assistant United States Attorney Martin Harrell of the EPA regional office in Philadelphia.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE Contact: PATTY HARTMANN
EASTERN DISTRICT, PENNSYLVANIA Media Contact
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street 215-861-8525
Philadelphia, PA 19106