Barge company charged in benzene leak

Barge company charged in benzene leak A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Ky., has returned a criminal indictment against Canal Barge Co. Inc. of Belle Chasse, La., and three employees over a benzene leak on a barge traveling on the Ohio River.
   U.S. Justice Department said that when the barge developed a leak, the defendants did not report it as required by law, but instead concealed the leak, patched it and passed the barge to another barge company. The patch did not hold, causing another leak, which caused persons from the second company to seek medical attention.
   If convicted, the employees face up to 12 years imprisonment, a $600,000 fine, and supervised release for a period of three years.
   The maximum penalty for Canal Barge is a $1.2 million fine.