CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A former Huntington chemical company president faces charges stemming from a 2004 chemical spill that forced the evacuation of 500 residents.
James R. Holt faces one count of violating the Clean Water Act and a second count of violating federal hazardous waste storage laws.
The Oct. 28, 2004, leak at TechSol Chemical Co.'s facility occurred as the company's workers tried to transfer about 22,000 gallons of coal tar light oil from a rail car to a tanker truck for Marathon Ashland.
Schools and homes were evacuated, some for up to a week.
In 2006, the company settled a lawsuit for $3 million and Holt agreed to never again operate an environmentally sensitive business in West Virginia.
It was not immediately clear if Holt had an attorney.