U.S. Attorney files felony charges against Kinder Morgan

U.S. Attorney Karin Immergut filed felony charges Friday against Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminals Inc. for "transporting material for dumping in ocean waters without a permit."

Kinder Morgan is a large energy and pipeline company.

The one-page court document filed Friday does not elaborate on the charges against Kinder Morgan. It alleges that in August 2003 the company "knowingly, by and through its agents and employees, caused to be transported from the United States material, for the purpose of dumping the material into ocean waters, without a permit issued pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act."

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J. Ronald Sutcliffe, the Idaho-based Department of Justice attorney handling the case, declined comment.

The attorney listed on court paperwork for Kinder Morgan did not immediately respond to a call for comment.

The charge is likely related to a whistleblower claim filed with the Environmental Protection Agency against the company by former Port of Portland dockworker Jerry Cressa.

As reported by Willamette Week in August, Cressa claimed that in the fall of 2003 Kinder Morgan paid a freighter captain at the Port of Portland to haul 159 tons of contaminated potash out to sea and dump it.

Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., subsequently contacted the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice and U.S. Coast Guard to inquire about the allegation.