A car crushing operation was found guilty of dumping oil and gasoline during its operations. The company, Murtaugh Recycling Corp., was found guilty of the action Jan. 29 by the city of Conquest, N.Y.’s Court.
The company, with a facility in Fulton, N.Y., was accused of letting oil and gasoline spill out during the operation at a mobile crushing site in Conquest around 18 months ago. According to a local press report, officers from the state of New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation accused the company of spilling the liquids while the company was crushing about 15-200 cars in the city in July 2001.
A jury convicted the company of fourth degree endangering the public health, safety or the environment.
Sentencing will be March 3. The possible penalties can range from no fine up to $25,000. The company also could be ordered to pay for any environmental cleanup caused by the spill.
According to a spokesman for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation the company has a similar case pending in Oswego County, N.Y.