Kansas man convicted of dumping hazardous material that went up in flames

A Scammon man has been sentenced for dumping in southeast Kansas a truckload of hazardous waste that ended up catching fire.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Jack E. Smith was given 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to unlawfully disposing the waste in Crawford Co.

U.S. Attorney Tom Beall says Smith admitting buying a truck he knew was filled with urethane flooring materials, paints, and other chemicals. He added that the 37-year-old knew the materials were hazardous and flammable.

Beall says Smith went to rural Crawford Co. to dump the materials, but before he could unload it all, they caught fire. The federal government estimated it cost $19,000 to clean it all up.

The EPA, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger participated in investigating the case, Beall noted.