Trial Set for Owner Charged in West Virginia Chemical Spill

A January trial is scheduled for the former owner of a chemical company who’s facing charges stemming from a spill in Huntington that displaced hundreds of people.

Former TechSol Chemical Co. owner James R. Holt pleaded not guilty this week to federal charges of violating the Clean Water Act and violating federal hazardous waste storage laws.

Holt’s trial was set for Jan. 5 before U.S. District Judge Chuck Chambers. Holt remains free on an unsecured $10,000 bond.

The Oct. 28, 2004, spill at TechSol’s facility occurred as workers tried to transfer about 22,000 gallons of coal tar light oil from a rail car to a tanker truck for Marathon Ashland.

Schools and homes were evacuated, some for up to a week.