TALLAHASSEE, FL – MARCH 11, 2003
On Sunday, the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Division of Law Enforcement arrested Wade Douglas Smith, age 32, at his home in Crawfordville for commercial dumping, a felony violation of Florida’s environmental law. Smith’s arrest is the culmination of a three-month DEP investigation.

Smith was employed as a driver for the U.S. Filter Corporation, a national waste-hauling contractor that transfers commercial solid waste from the Wakulla County Landfill to the Bay County Solid Waste Facility in Panama City. In late November, while en route to Panama City, Smith allegedly dumped 33,000 pounds of solid waste on Highway 20, near Forest Road 344 on SR 267. After discovery of the crime by the Florida Highway Patrol, DEP agents and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office interviewed Smith. While being questioned at the scene, he denied any involvement or knowledge of the crime, but later admitted that he illegally dumped the waste. Smith claimed that he lied because he feared reprisal from his supervisors.

Smith claimed that he was required to deliver a certain number of loads per week to the Panama City facility. According to Smith, failure to meet his quota of deliveries would result in disciplinary action or a pay cut. On the night in question, Smith stated that he dumped the load illegally upon realizing that he could not meet his deadline.

No arraignment date has been scheduled. The felony charge carries a possible penalty of five years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

CONTACT: Lucia Ross, (850) 245-2862