Spokane Company Investigated For Dumping Violations Allegations Of Chromic Acid In Aquifer Made By Two Former Plant Employees

A Spokane company is under investigation for possibly dumping thousands of gallons of chromic acid over the aquifer - a criminal violation of federal hazardous waste laws.

Federal and state investigators searched Inland Empire Plating Co. Thursday after U.S. Magistrate Cynthia Imbrogno approved a search warrant.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s criminal investigations division in Seattle and the state Department of Ecology conducted the search.

The plating and metal fabrication company at 2401 N. Eastern Road is within several hundred feet of one of Spokane’s main drinking water wells, heightening concerns about the aquifer.

Chromic acid, a strong poison that also can cause cancer in humans, is used in electroplating operations.

“The city of Spokane is very concerned, due to the potential danger to the water supply,” said Jim Malm of the Ecology Department’s hazardous waste division.

The search was fruitful, Malm said.

“We did find some things that appear to be hazardous waste violations,” he said.

Owner Don Middaugh did not return telephone calls Tuesday asking for comment about the search. The company also is known as MIDDCO Tool and Equipment Co.

The investigation was prompted by two ex-employees’ allegations that the company has illegally dumped hazardous chemicals into the ground and into sewers for several years.

Josh Bryant of Mead, who was fired from the company in August, told federal investigators he had witnessed two acid spills, including one between 800 and 1,500 gallons in November 1994.

Bryant said the chromic acid “had eaten thorough the concrete floor of the shop,” according to an EPA affidavit prepared for the search warrant request.

Another former employee, John Borses, told investigators he had seen a spill of at least 850 gallons of chromic acid plating solution in 1992.

Borses also told EPA about a 1,500-gallon spill of muriatic acid in 1994 that ate through the concrete floor and drained into the soil after a pump failure, the EPA affidavit said.

Borses said he saw another employee dump “at least 20 gallons” of cyanide zinc solution into the shop’s sewer drain in 1991 or 1992.

In the affidavit, Michael Burnett of EPA’s criminal investigation unit said the company’s hazardous waste disposal reports don’t jibe with the amount of waste routinely generated in an electroplating operation.

Inland Empire Plating Co. also has reported no emergency spills to the EPA’s National Response Center in the past two years, Burnett said.

The search warrant included a request to obtain records on the chemicals used at the facility, and to search soils around the plant.

Burnett said in the affidavit that hexavalent chrome, the main component of chromic acid plating solution, “does not readily degrade and can remain in the environment for many years.”

After the criminal investigation concludes, the case could be presented to a grand jury in Spokane for any indictments.

, DataTimes