Maryland Man Pleads Guilty To 17 Environmental Crimes Charges

A Maryland man pleaded guilty to 17 environmental crimes related to the illegal dumping and ultimate abandonment of over 250,000 scrap tires in Allegheny County, according to Maryland Attorney GeneralAnthony G. Brown.

Michel Osei, 48,of Anne Arundel County pleaded guilty to the charge one count of unlawful disposal for gain, eight counts of operating a scrap tire facility without a license and eight counts of improper handling of waste.

Inspectors with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) first became aware of Osei's operation on Oct. 7, 2021. A site inspection and complaint documented that the property housed approximately 10,000-15,000 scrap tires. Osei had no permits and stored the tire scraps outside and uncovered, posing a significant safety hazard. The MDE contacted the Maryland State Office of the Fire Marshal due to the seriousness of the risk, according to officials Maryland AG's office.
 
Osei was ordered to cease operations by the MDE and the Fire Marshal on multiple occasionsbetween fall 2021 and spring 2022. An estimated number of over 250,000 scrap tires remained on property after Osei abandoned the site in September 2022. Allegheny County has since started cleanup of the site.

An estimation of over 250,000 scrap tires abandoned by a Maryland man at former scrap tire facility (Maryland Attorney General).
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Osei claimed the facility he planned to run would eventually employ up to 50 people and "already had millions of dollars' worth of contracts to send the recycled tires overseas," according to the Maryland Attorney General's office. The county offered Osei a land-lease based on his representations for an industrial parcel along the Potomac River at23302 Westernport Road SW in Westernport. Operations at the facility began on July 19, 2021, according to officials at the Maryland Attorney General office.

Osei and his employees collected over 100,000 scrap tires from various locations in West Virginia where the tires were then taken to the Westernport facility, according to officials at the Maryland Attorney General office.

“Convictions like this are essential to safeguarding our environment and making it crystal clear that businesses must recycle and dispose of scrap tires lawfully. We simply won’t tolerate such irresponsible behavior,” said A.G. Brown.

The handling of scrap tires is handled by the MDE through Maryland law because it poses health risks to both people and the environment. Scrap tires may only be transported by a licensed scrap tire hauler and stored, sorted or processed at licensed facilities in accordance with the terms of the MDE's issued licenses.abc news