Freedom Industries pleaded guilty in federal court this week in Charleston to three environmental crimes in connection with the January 2014 Elk River chemical spill, U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced. Freedom, which owned and operated the facility from which the chemical MCHM spilled into the river, pleaded guilty to negligent discharge of a pollutant, the unlawful discharge of refuse, and violating a permit condition. Sentencing of the company is scheduled for June 29, 2015.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division.