Chemetco controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2001
Bankruptcy and closure
Chemetco ceased operations and entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy after environmental prosecutions, financial pressure, and declining U.S. secondary-smelting economics.
1996
Concealed discharge and Clean Water Act violations
A hidden pipe discharged heavy-metal wastewater into wetlands connected to the Mississippi River. The case led to federal prosecution, convictions, and a $3.8 million company fine.
1992
Campaign-finance contribution scheme
The FEC investigated contributions associated with Chemetco, John M. Suarez, José Bóveda, and related companies. Investigators concluded that corporate and foreign funds had been routed through intermediaries in connection with federal campaigns.
1990
Occupational exposure and worker-health findings
NIOSH documented excessive exposure to lead, arsenic, beryllium, and sulfuric-acid mist, along with contaminated eating areas and a confirmed case of chronic beryllium disease.