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Denis L. Feron

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File:DenisLFeron-EPA.gif
Denis L. Feron, EPA Fugitive

Denis Lucien Emile Feron (born March 22, 1928)[1] is former owner and Chief Executive Officer of the Midwestern copper smelter, Chemetco, and a former fugitive on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Most Wanted list. He was charged with deliberate illegal discharge of hazardous pollutants, violating the United States Clean Water Act, and evading arrest.[2]

He was born in Sint-Pieters-Woluwe, Belgium.[1]

Physical description

Feron is 6’01" (185 cm) 169 lbs.(76.7 kg) with blue eyes and brown hair. He has no known tattoos or distinguishing scars. He is elderly and may be in failing health.[3]

Early life

Feron competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics and in the 1956 Winter Olympics in alpine skiing. In 1952 he finished 63rd in the downhill event, 73rd in the giant slalom competition, 46th in the slalom contest but was eliminated in the first run.[1]<[4]

Four years later he finished 38th in the 1956 downhill event, 46th in the slalom competition, and 65th in the giant slalom contest.

His older brother Michel competed in the 1948 and 1952 Winter Games, also in alpine skiing.[citation needed]

Indictment

On April 21, 1999, a federal grand jury charged Chemetco Inc., Feron, and five of his employees with violating the United States Clean Water Act for using an illegal secret discharge pipe to deliberately pump hazardous waste water contaminated with various pollutants and industrial waste including cadmium, lead and zinc into Long Lake, a tributary of the Mississippi River. Those named in the indictment were: Chemetco President Denis L. Feron, Gary Reed, George Boud Jr., Roger Copeland, Kevin Youngman, and Chemetco plant manager Bruce Hendrickson.[5]

Despite regular monitoring of Chemetco by Environmental Protection Agency officials, Feron ordered the construction of a secret pipe through which he authorised the pumping of millions of gallons of water containing heavy metals and other hazardous waste into Long Lake and nearby wetlands. It was 10 years before Illinois and U.S. inspectors discovered the pipe in 1996. Before filing for bankruptcy in 2001, Chemetco produced about 50% of the United States copper output from non-mined sources.[6]

Fugitive

File:Denis L. Feron WANTED.png
A wanted poster prepared by the EPA

Rather than face up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines, Feron fled prior to trial and remains at large. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has posted him on their list of most wanted fugitives accused of violating environmental laws and evading arrest.[7]

Law enforcement officials believed he may have returned to Belgium.

Closure of case

  • Feron accepted responsibility for his role
  • He paid $500,000 restitution.
  • In January 2010 all remaining charges were dismissed.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Denis Feron". sports-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  2. ^ "EPA Fugitives". U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  3. ^ "EPA Wanted Poster Denis L. Feron" (PDF). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2009-02-04. [dead link]
  4. ^ Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano (1956), p. 594–595
  5. ^ "United States vs Chemetco et al. Criminal no. 99-3-48-WDS". United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. 1999-04-21. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  6. ^ Alistair Siddons (2007-02). "Can There Ever be Fair Trade Copper?". Retrieved 2009-02-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "(AMM) Chemetco exec on 'most wanted' list". Metal Bulletin. 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  8. ^ EPA site
  • (AMM) Chemetco exec on 'most wanted' list [1]
  • IEPA Non-compliant Facilities [2]
  • Chemetco Estate - [3]
  • Trustee goes after Chemetco funds [4]
  • Press Release: Chemetco, employees indicted for environmental violations [5] from U.S. Water News Online [6]
  • HEALTH CONSULTATION, CHEMETCO - HARTFORD, MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS [7] from Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry [8]
  • IEPA Orders Bankrupt Smelter Site Sealed, Chemetco Inc. subject to $3.86 million fine [9]
  • Illinois EPA Director Issues Seal Order on Chemetco Property [10]
  • What Chemetco did - the story of a deluded company [11]
  • Can There Ever be Fair Trade Copper?[12]
  • Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Air Pollution Control - Permit Record [13]
  • ILLINOIS COMPANY AND SIX EMPLOYEES INDICTED [14], from the Environmental Resource Center [15]
  • EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)[16]
  • Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree Pursuant to the Clean Air Act
  • [17], from the Federal Register [18]
  • SECRET DISCHARGE PIPE POLLUTING MISSISSIPPI TRIBUTARY FOUND
  • [19]
  • Bankrupt Smelter's Execs Settle Case for $3.1 Million [20] from RedOrbit [21]
  • Former Employee at Illinois Firm Pleads Guilty in Pollution Case [22] from http://www.bnet.com/
  • EPA Facility Detail Report [23]
  • Copper [24]
  • A Snapshot of Chris Cahnovsky, Enforcement Manager, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.[25]
  • Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano (1956). VII Olympic Winter Games: Official Report (PDF). Cortina d'Ampezzo. Retrieved 2010-03-02.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

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