"Ex-Exec Sentenced To 1 Month In West Virginia Chemical Spill"

"CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A former Freedom Industries executive was sentenced Thursday to one month in federal prison for a chemical spill that fouled the drinking water supply of 300,000 West Virginians.

Dennis Farrell also was fined $20,000 in U.S. District Court. ...

The January 2014 spill of a coal-cleaning agent into the Elk River in Charleston got into a water company's intake and prompted a tap-water ban in nine counties for up to 10 days. Residents immediately cleared store shelves of bottled water, and many restaurants were forced to close or cut back services temporarily. ...

Four other ex-Freedom officials have been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay fines. Ex-company President Gary Southern is scheduled to be sentenced next week."

John Raby reports for the Associated Press February 11, 2016.