CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A fourth former Freedom Industries official was sentenced Monday to three years of probation and a $20,000 fine Monday in connection with the 2014 chemical spill.
William Tis had previously pled guilty to an environmental crime in connection with the incident, which released Crude MCHM into the Elk River and contaminated water systems in nine counties for weeks.
Tis admitted that he was aware of the permit and was put on notice that Freedom was required to have a storm water plan. He further admitted that he had the responsibility to ensure that Freedom complied with the permit by having a storm water and groundwater plan in place.
Tis was the fourth former Freedom executive to receive probation, a fine and avoid any time in federal prison.
Former Freedom president and owner Dennis Farrell and former president Gary Southern are scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 11 and Feb. 17, respectively.