CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former Freedom Industries tank farm plant manager Michael Burdette was sentenced to three-years probation and a $2,500 fine Thursday afternoon.
Burdette is the third former Freedom official to be sentenced in connection with the Jan. 2014 MCHM spill. Like former vice-president Charles Herzing and former environmental consultant Robert Reynolds earlier this week, Burdette avoided any prison time.
Freedom Industries as a company was also sentenced Thursday afternoon following Burdette. The bankrupt company was fined a maximum of $900,000.
U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston noted that the fine is unlikely to ever be paid, with Freedom facing millions more dollars in claims than assets.
Former President Gary Southern and former owner and officer Dennis Farrell are still awaiting sentencing for their roles in the spill, which contaminated the water systems in parts of nine counties for several weeks.
A sentencing hearing for former co-owner William Tis is scheduled for Monday.