133 lines
5.9 KiB
Plaintext
133 lines
5.9 KiB
Plaintext
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April 1991
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POLICE PRACTICES:
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CHP'S HAZARDOUS WASTE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT
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The amount of hazardous waste generated in this country
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changed dramatically with the industrial growth that followed
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World War II. For example, by the end of the war, U.S.
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industries generated roughly 500,000 metric tons of hazardous
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waste per year. (1) The Environmental Protection Agency's
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Office of Solid Waste now reports that the amount of hazardous
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waste generated has soared to approximately 300 million metric
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tons per year.
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As the volume of hazardous waste production increased, the
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public became more aware of the dangers of improperly managed
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hazardous waste. Congress responded to this problem with strong
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legislation to protect both the environment and public health,
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and cities and States enacted strict pollution control laws to
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prohibit the illegal disposal of hazardous and toxic wastes.
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These pollution control laws impact on corporations, which
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must bear the financial burden of proper waste disposal. As a
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result, to reduce operating costs, some corporations dispose of
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hazardous and toxic waste illegally. In order to avoid
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detection and prosecution, these corporations have, over the
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years, become more sophisticated in the illegal methods by which
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they dispose of their hazardous waste. To combat this growing
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problem, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) established a
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Hazardous Waste Investigations Unit.
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A SPECIALIZED UNIT
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The CHP, as a State agency, has jurisdiction throughout the
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entire State. And, because hazardous waste cases require
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closely coordinated multijurisdictional investigations, the CHP
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is the primary investigative agency for these crimes within
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California.
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The purpose of the Hazardous Waste Investigative Unit is to
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reduce the number of violations involving the transportation and
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disposal of hazardous waste within the State. There are 10
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hazardous waste investigators located in CHP divisions
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throughout the State. These investigators:
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* Investigate and seek prosecution of those who illegally
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transport and dispose of hazardous waste
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* Reduce the amount of illegally transported hazardous
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waste through public awareness programs and industry
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contact
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* Assist patrol officers in cases that involve the
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transportation or disposal of hazardous waste
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* Train personnel of both CHP and other agencies
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concerning hazardous waste
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* Coordinate investigations with other agencies
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* Participate in local task forces
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The Hazardous Waste Unit investigators receive information
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concerning illegal waste disposal from a variety of sources,
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including informants, disgruntled employees, competitors, other
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State agencies, and field officers. Information received
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through these various channels has allowed the CHP to enact an
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innovative approach to the problem.
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A PROACTIVE APPROACH
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In 1989, investigators of the Los Angeles County
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Environmental Strike Force and the CHP Hazardous Waste Unit
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tried a proactive approach to investigate illegal transporters
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of hazardous waste. The technique targets individual companies
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that are suspected of illegal activity in hazardous waste
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transportation and disposal.
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A surveillance team focused on a particular hazardous waste
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disposal company that was licensed in California. There had
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been several complaints from companies that generate hazardous
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waste about the manner in which this transporter handled or
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transported waste from its facilities. A truck from the company
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was kept under surveillance from the early morning hours until
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the end of the day. Within 2 days, investigators witnessed
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several violations committed by the transporter, including
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felony transportation and disposal. During the surveillance,
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another company was also observed transporting and disposing of
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wastes illegally.
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This surveillance resulted in several Federal and State
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charges being filed, and in addition, opened a new door
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concerning the illegal transportation of hazardous wastes to
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Mexico. The CHP, the EPA, and the FBI are continuing to focus
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on the illegal transportation of hazardous wastes into Mexico,
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and they have formed a liaison with the EPA's Mexican
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counterpart.
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CONCLUSION
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The California Highway Patrol is emerging as a forerunner
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of investigations concerning the illegal transportation of
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hazardous waste throughout the State. Since its inception, the
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Hazardous Waste Investigations Unit has investigated or taken
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part in over 250 cases several of which have resulted in felony
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charges. At the present time, the unit has a 100% conviction
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rate on cases that have been filed through the District
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Attorney's office. In addition, since 1985, the CHP has been
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reimbursed over $40,000 for investigative services performed,
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not including fines entitled to the State.
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The illegal disposal and transportation of hazardous waste
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is a growing concern for both the public and law enforcement.
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The CHP's Hazardous Waste Investigations Unit is an innovative
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approach to this problem one that other departments may want to
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incorporate into their operations.
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FOOTNOTE
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(1) U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste, RCRA Orientation
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Manual, January 1986, doc. no. WH562, Washington, D.C., 1986, pp
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1-3.
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---------------
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For more information on Hazardous Waste Investigative
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Units, contact Sgt. Lance Erickson, Department of California
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Highway Patrol, Southern Environmental Crimes Unit, 437 North
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Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90004, 1-212-664-0695.
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