Benzene leak contaminates water supply

On June 6, 2007 the Department of Justice announced that the Canal Barge Company, Inc. and three of its employees had been indicted in connection with an unreported benzene leak on the Ohio River. The indictments cite criminal violations of the Ports and Waterway Safety Act and the Clean Water Act, as well as conspiracy.

According to the indictment, the Canal Barge Company found a benzene leak on its Barge 222 on June 16, 2005. Employees on the barge patched the leak, but did not report it to the Coast Guard as is required by law. Instead, the company passed the barge to another company for transport along the Ohio River. At no time did the company inform this company about the benzene leak or the makeshift patch. On June 20, the patch failed causing the barge to leak again. Some employees of the second company had to seek medical attention due to benzene exposure.

Pollution in the Ohio River is not new. Despite the fact that over 25 million people live in the Ohio River Basin, and that the river itself serves as the water supply for at least 3 million people, industries along the river continually dump dangerous chemicals like benzene into the environment. One Sunoco plant near Haverhill, OH reportedly released 5.3 million pounds of benzene into the environment in 2003 – and did so legally. Residents in the area are continually at risk of contamination due to benzene and dozens of other harmful chemicals, heavy metals, non-organics, and other toxins.

In fact there are examples everywhere, though not everyone is aware of the danger. Buried in the bottom of a 2003 City of Steubenville (OH) Water Confidence Report, for example, the authors mention an “unreported benzene spill” that year. The report states that in February 2003, the water treatment plant supplied the city with drinking water contaminated with unacceptable levels of benzene for a “short” period of less than two days. However, the report backtracks a bit: “Because this spill could not be detected in a timely manner, samples could not be taken; therefore it must be assumed that the City discharged drinking water with levels of Benzene above the [maximum allowable limit] for less than two (2) days.”

This potentially dangerous benzene leak was explained away in just one paragraph of the Water Confidence Report.

In Canal Barge Company case, each of the three employees faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in jail, $600,000 in fines, and 3 years probation. The company itself could be ordered to pay a fine of  1.2 million for failing to report the benzene leak.

Benzene can cause serious health issues. If you have had health problems including cancer, and you feel that your contaminated environment may have played a role, contact a Jim S. Adler & Associates personal injury attorney for a free case assessment. We may be able to help you get money to pay for your medical bills and recover your lost wages. You may also be eligible for compensation for your pain and suffering. Call Jim S. Adler & Associates directly right now, or fill out the form on this page with the details of your benzene exposure to start your free legal review.