Suspects cited by DEP for illegally storing hazardous waste
FORT MYERS – Florida Department of Environmental Protection law enforcement agents recently arrested a former owner of MAACO Auto Painting and Collision Repair in Fort Myers for illegally storing 20 55-gallon drums of hazardous paint waste behind his business. Scott A. Stone, 37, of Bonita Springs was charged with illegal storage of hazardous waste, a third degree felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
“Mr. Stone lacked the necessary permits to store hazardous waste at his place of business and was non-compliant with several requests to remove the 2,653 pounds of waste from his property,” said DEP Division of Law Enforcement Director Henry Barnet. “Thanks to the timely notification made by our regulatory district office, we were able to solve this environmental crime in a quick and efficient manner.”
DEP’s three-month investigation of Stone’s business revealed the illegal storage of hazardous paint waste behind his facility. Investigators discovered 20 55-gallon drums of paint waste and eight 5-gallon buckets of unknown substances. Stone was notified of the storage violations and instructed to have the material removed from the property immediately. In a separate incident, Stone was reportedly evicted from the property by the landowner for non-payment of rent, at which time the waste had not been removed. At that time, the previous owner resumed ownership of MAACO Auto Painting and Collision Repair and allowed DEP to conduct lab testing of the materials still on the property. According to the DEP, tests of the substances came back positive for hazardous material.
Stone was transported and booked at the Lee County Jail Tuesday, May 19, and was released on $1,500 bond.
DEP’s Division of Law Enforcement is responsible for statewide environmental resource law enforcement, providing law enforcement services to Florida’s state parks and greenways and trails. Agents investigate environmental resource crimes and illegal dredge and fill activities, and respond to natural disasters, civil unrest, hazardous material incidents and oil spills that can threaten the environment.
To report an environmental crime, wireless customers can dial #DEP. Callers can also report environmental crimes to the State Warning Point by calling (877) 2-SAVE-FL (1.877.272.8335).