Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen Announces Settlement With Waterloo Man

MADISON - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that his office has filed and settled an environmental enforcement lawsuit in Jefferson County Circuit Court against James J. Gauthier for violations of Wisconsin hazardous waste disposal laws related to his furniture refinishing operations in Waterloo.

The complaint alleged that Gauthier, beginning at least as early as 2005, without a permit or any other required authorization, unlawfully disposed of hazardous waste at 129 North Monroe Street in Waterloo, and generated and stored chemicals and waste at 333 Portland Avenue in Waterloo.  Gauthier also owned land at 211 South Monroe Street that is contaminated by hazardous spills.

Under the settlement stipulation, which the court has now adopted as its judgment in this case, Gauthier has agreed to do the following:

• Hire a qualified consultant to investigate and determine if hazardous waste is present at 129 North Monroe Street in Waterloo and if so clean it up as required by law; and hire a qualified consultant to classify and, as required by law, either dispose of or lawfully account for waste and usable chemicals at 333 Portland Avenue in Waterloo
• Apply for reimbursement under the Wisconsin Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Act to clean up the hazardous substance spills at 211 South Monroe Street in Waterloo and hire a qualified consultant who will then investigate and clean up the site as required by law
• Pay a total of $5,000 in forfeitures, surcharges, and costs for his violations of Wisconsin environmental law

"Wisconsin's laws on hazardous waste disposal are in place to protect our citizens and our natural resources," Van Hollen said.  "I am pleased that the settlement in this case is aimed at achieving compliance with the law and protecting the public from hazardous waste."   

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources investigated this case and referred it to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, asking that an environmental enforcement case be brought against Gauthier in Jefferson County Circuit Court.  Wisconsin Assistant Attorney General Philip Peterson represented the state.  Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge John M. Ullsvik approved the settlement.