J.H. Baxter fined $1.5M for illegal hazardous waste treatment and Clean Air Act violations 

J.H. Baxter fined $1.5M for illegal hazardous waste treatment and Clean Air Act violations 

April 30, 2025
The facility’s emissions practices released hazardous pollutants into the air across from a residential neighborhood. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that J.H. Baxter & Co. Inc. and J.H. Baxter & Co., A California Limited Partnership, along with company president Georgia Baxter-Krause, have been sentenced for hazardous waste and Clean Air Act violations at the company’s wood treatment facility in Eugene, Oregon. The two companies were fined a combined $1.5 million in criminal penalties and placed on five years of probation, while Baxter-Krause was sentenced to 90 days in prison and one year of supervised release.

According to court documents, the companies used hazardous chemicals in wood treatment and improperly disposed of excess wastewater by boiling it off in unpermitted wood retorts, releasing emissions through open vents into the surrounding community. Georgia Baxter-Krause was found guilty of making false statements to inspectors about the practice, despite being aware of detailed production logs documenting 136 days of illegal activity in 2019. The case was investigated by the EPA Criminal Investigation Division with support from multiple state and regional environmental agencies as part of the Environmental Crimes Task Force. 

What people are saying 

In a recent quote, Jeffrey Hall, Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said, “The J.H. Baxter companies knowingly mishandled hazardous waste and repeatedly violated the Clean Air Act by venting hazardous substances directly into the air, right across the street from people’s homes. The company president then lied to cover up these crimes. oday’s sentencing highlights the significant penalties that Congress has provided for illegally treating or disposing of hazardous waste as well as the Agency’s continued efforts to ensure that Americans have clean air, land, and water.” 

Adam Gustafson, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, added, “On more than 100 different days, J.H. Baxter knowingly and illegally boiled off hazardous waste, emitting the discharge into the air. J.H. Baxter’s President, Georgia Baxter-Krause, then made false statements about the unlawful practice. Protecting the public’s health is among our highest priorities, and we will prosecute those who violate environmental laws.” 

Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Chief of the Eugene and Medford Branches of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, added, “The defendant companies boiled hazardous waste into our community’s air instead of properly dealing with it and Georgia Baxter-Krause lied when confronted about it. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute those who put Oregonians at risk in violation of federal law.” 

EPA in the news 

Hino Motors to pay $1.6B in penalties for emissions fraud
From 2010 to 2019, Hino engineers falsified emissions data, improperly conducted tests, and concealed software that could impact emission control systems.

Kugler Oil fined $119K for chemical accident prevention violations at Nebraska facility
The plant failed to comply with regulations intended to protect workers and the surrounding community from accidental releases of the toxic substance.

Sugar processor violates Clean Water Act by discharging raw sugar into the Carquinez Strait 
The discharge occurred when the plant received raw cane sugar from ships that dock at the facility.

Learn more about environmental initiatives 

5 Steps for Building Sustainability Into Product Design
80% of a product's environmental impact is determined during the design phase.

Understanding ESG Risks
ESG reporting should be as imperative as financial reporting. 

Critical Role of Supply Chain Management in Corporate Sustainability
"Without clear visibility into supplier practices, businesses are exposed to significant reputational, operational, and financial threats."

About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector. 

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