
The remarkably laconic late-morning phone conversation between a company representative and a hotline operator named Laverne reveals Freedom Industries minimizing the extent of the spill and making several flat-out misstatements about what's transpiring. It's safe to predict that this tape will become Exhibit A in pending civil litigation accusing Freedom of negligence and in any potential criminal charges related to the spill. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Charleston has said that it has launched a wide-ranging probe of the incident. Freedom Industries and its executives have denied any wrongdoing.
The caller from Freedom Industries, identifying himself as Bob Reynolds, says on the audio tape that the substance being released isn't toxic or hazardous and isn't escaping into the Elk River. A containment wall has blocked the spill from spreading, he adds. Both statements were incorrect.
Comment: Lunches seized and tossed in trash at Salt Lake City elementary school for kids with unpaid balances