Published: Monday, 3/16/2015

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHARLESTON, W.Va. A former owner of Freedom Industries pleaded guilty today to federal Clean Water Act violations stemming from last years chemical spill in Charleston.

William Tis, 60, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Charleston. Tis faces up to a year in prison when sentenced June 22. He also faces a fine of $25,000 per day per violation, or $100,000 whichever is greater.

Another hearing was set later today for former owner Charles Herzing.

Plea hearings also were scheduled Wednesday for Freedom environmental consultant Robert Reynolds and tank farm plant manager Michael Burdette, and on March 23 for the company itself. All are charged with federal Clean Water Act violations and are expected to plead guilty.

Ex-Freedom owner Dennis Farrell and former President Gary Southern face trial later this year on charges related to the spill of a coal-cleaning agent. In addition, Southern faces charges related to Freedoms bankruptcy.

Freedom filed for the protection eight days after the Jan. 9, 2014, leak into the Elk River in Charleston. West Virginia American Water uses the river for its water supply less than 2 miles downstream, and the spill prompted a tap water ban for 300,000 residents in nine counties for days until the system was flushed out.

In addition to his ownership in the company, Tis was Freedoms secretary from 2004 until December 2013.

Southern, Tis, Herzing and Farrell were accused of failing to ensure that the company operated the Charleston facility in a reasonable and environmentally sound manner, and ignoring or failing to pay for repairs and maintenance needed to comply with environmental regulations.

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Ex-owner pleads guilty in W. Va. chemical spill case