EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (CN) - A worker says American River Transportation Co. and Archer-Daniels-Midland fired him for saying he would tell the truth about their illegal dumping of oil into the Mississippi River.
Steven Howland says the defendants intentionally pumped waste oil from their holding tanks into the river while he worked at their terminal on June 16, 2007. He says he discussed the issue with a supervisor and the terminal manager.
Howland says the terminal manager asked him what he would say to the Coast Guard or the Environmental Protection Agency if they were to interview him, and he said he would tell the truth. He was fired three days later, Howland says in his complaint in Madison County Court.
He claims that on April 7 this year, an attorney representing the defendants contacted him and said that his former supervisors said he was a good employee and indicated that he could help Howland get reinstated. Howland seeks more than $50,000 in damages and is represented by Lee Baron of Alton.
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