In Flint, Michigan, the head of a chemical manufacturing firm has been charged with multiple offenses linked to an incident involving the unauthorized release of oil into the Flint River, which occurred over two years ago. Rajinder Singh Minhas, 60, from Rochester, Michigan, was arrested and faced arraignment last week. The charges against him include falsifying public records, posing a significant public risk, and discharging harmful substances into state waters, alongside allegations of making false statements regarding air quality controls, as confirmed by Attorney General Dana Nessel on Monday.
Minhas also held the positions of director and treasurer at Lockhart Chemical, a company located in Flint that produces various products such as coatings, additives for metalworking, hydraulic fluids, and lubricants. The Attorney General’s office pointed to serious mismanagement and a lack of essential maintenance at the facility as contributing factors to the incident.
The hazardous spill, which involved approximately 15,000 gallons of a mixture of oil and chemicals, took place on June 15, 2022. Reports indicate that the discharge originated from a storm sewer that channels waste into the river, as stated by a representative of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy at the time.
Following the event, state officials mandated that the firm cease using defective wastewater and stormwater systems while also implementing necessary improvements. However, Lockhart Chemical has since declared bankruptcy. Authorities have assured the public that Flint’s drinking water supply remained secure during this incident. The city had used the river as a water source between 2014 and 2015 before reverting to Lake Huron due to lead contamination issues.
Minhas has been released on a personal bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on January 2 for a probable cause hearing, as per the court records. Efforts made to contact Lockhart Chemical for a statement have been unsuccessful, as the company’s listed phone number has been disconnected. A message was left for Minhas’ attorney seeking further comment on the situation.
