Houston

Owner of Houston Company Illegally Dumped Chemical Waste

Prosecutors say the majority owner of a Houston company illegally dumped chemicals into the city's storm-drain system that were so toxic they "would burn the skin off your bones."

The Harris County district attorney's office said in a statement Friday that 50-year-old Ronald Wright was indicted a day earlier on charges that include improper disposal and storage of hazardous materials.

Officials said the dumping occurred as recently as last month. The general manager of Wright Containers also was indicted.

Companies in the oil and gas industry would ship waste to Wright for disposal but prosecutors said the waste was repeatedly dumped into the drainage system.

Benzene was among the toxic material that was dumped.

A message left for Wright at his company was not immediately returned.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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