TRENTON, N.J. — Federal authorities on Monday accused a pipe manufacturer and five of its managers of fouling the environment and maintaining a workplace so dangerous that a worker died and many others were maimed.
The criminal charges against Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Co. were announced by the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey following the arrest of four of the managers at the company's plant in Phillipsburg. The fifth surrendered before their arraignment Monday afternoon in the federal courthouse in Trenton.
All five pleaded innocent and were released on their own recognizance.
"This company has a notorious history of wanton pollution of our environment, evading detection at all costs, and ruling the workplace through fear and intimidation of employees, all of which is alleged in this indictment," U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie said.
Named in the indictments are plant manager John Prisque; maintenance supervisor Jeffrey Maury; engineering and environmental manager Daniel Yadzinski; finishing superintendent Craig Davidson; and Scott Saubert, Atlantic States' former human resource manager.
Atlantic States referred inquiries to its parent company, McWane Inc., on Monday morning. Representatives of McWane, based in Birmingham, Ala., did not immediately respond to a telephone message.
The federal indictment charges Atlantic States and the five managers with violating federal workplace safety laws and obstructing criminal and regulatory investigations by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They also are charged with defying federal clean air and water regulations. Federal prosecutors said Atlantic States regularly discharged oil and paint into the Delaware River.
In June, OSHA fined Atlantic States $130,000 for a December 2002 accident in which an employee lost three fingers while helping a co-worker clean a cement mixer. OSHA's inspection found 12 new safety violations, nine for serious or repeat infractions.
The parent company was the subject of a nine-month investigation by The New York Times. The newspaper reported in January that McWane had more safety violations than its competitors and endangered workers' lives.
Another McWane company, Pacific States Cast Iron Pipe Co., came under investigation for pollution by its south Provo foundry earlier this year. Pacific States was mentioned in the Times investigation.
Atlantic States has operated under its current name since 1975, when it was acquired by McWane. The foundry itself has manufactured cast iron pipe since the 1850s under the ownership of several companies.
McWane's major holdings include pipe, valve and hydrant, utility fittings, tank manufacturing and fire extinguisher plants.