NCJ Number
94579
Date Published
1984
Length
48 pages
Annotation
Local police are having to assume responsibility for hazardous waste incidents and investigations without having sufficient resources.
Abstract
LaPorte County, Ind., has a high volume of hazardous waste traffic. Consequently, the sheriffs office and fire department trained 162 emergency personnel in hazardous materials transportation emergencies. Nevertheless, the rules and regulations pertaining to hazardous wastes are relatively unknown to officers on the street. Manufacturer's sincere efforts to dispose legally of waste are also hampered by the great expense and difficulties associated with regulations. Police investigations of hazardous waste incidents are rare. The LaPorte police force has investigated a manufacturing facility discharge incident and several trucking incidents. An ongoing investigation illustrates the difficulties of hazardous waste investigations. Without the aid of informants or the possible use of undercover personnel, such investigations are prohibitively difficult. In the LaPorte investigation, informant information was supplemented by ground and aerial surveillance of the chemical facility. Eventually, board of health inspections led to warranted searches. The Congress could assist such investigations by strengthening the role of the EPA, expanding police powers in the EPA's criminal division, and establishing grants for combined State level criminal technical team hazardous waste investigations.