Complaint Filed Against Kansas Firm Where 2 Workers Died

A civil complaint and compliance order have been issued to a Lawrence, Kan., company where two employees died in April.

The Environmental Protection Agency says Lawrence-based MagnaGro failed to conduct hazardous waster determinations required by Kansas and federal law.

Autopsies concluded that two workers died of asphyxiation April 1 while cleaning a storage tank at the company’s facilities in Lawrence.

The Kansas City Star reports that EPA staff conducted a compliance inspection and found a number of suspected solid and hazardous wastes.

The agency says it requested additional information from company owner Ray Sawyer, but he did not respond.

The EPA complaint requires MagnaGro to provide it with an inventory of drums, totes and other containers at the facility.

Information from: The Kansas City Star