FLINT, MI — The president of a chemical company has been charged in connection with the unauthorized discharge of oil that left a dark, oily sheen for miles on Michigan’s Flint River more than two years ago.
Rajinder Singh Minhas, 60, of Rochester, Michigan, was arrested and indicted last week on charges of falsely altering public records, significantly endangering the public, discharging noxious substances into state waters, false statements and omissions related to air pollution control and other charges, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Monday.
Minhas also served as director and treasurer of Flint-based Lockhart Chemical, which produces coatings, metalworking additives, hydraulic fluids and lubricants.
Critical maintenance and upgrades to the facility were reportedly mismanaged and neglected, Nessel said in a news release.
About 15,000 liters of an oil-chemical mixture was released on June 15, 2022. The spill came from a storm sewer that empties into the river, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said at the time.
The state later demanded that the company immediately stop using defective wastewater and rainwater conveyance systems make other changes. Lockhart has now filed for bankruptcy.
Officials said Flint’s drinking water was not threatened. Flint used the river for drinking water in 2014-2015 before lead contamination caused the city to return to Lake Huron water, supplied by a regional supplier.
Minhas was released on personal bond and is due back in court for a probable cause conference on Jan. 2, according to court records.
The Associated Press tried to reach Lockhart Chemical for comment Monday, but the company’s listed phone number was disconnected. A voicemail seeking comment was left for Minhas’ attorney Monday afternoon.