Alameda County
D.A. Pamela Price Says Recycling Company Will Face Up to $33 Million in Fines for Oakland Scrap Metal Fire
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price this week announced that on June 28 the Alameda County Criminal Grand Jury issued a 10-count indictment against Radius Recycling Inc. (formerly Schnitzer Steel), along with two company managers on charges that stem from crimes related to a two-day scrap metal fire on Aug. 9-10, 2023, at the company’s West Oakland metal-shedding facility. The unsealed indictment alleges that Radius/Schnitzer, Daniel Woltmann, and Dane Morales committed numerous felony health and safety code violations, including recklessly emitting an air contaminant that caused great bodily injury or death and reckless treatment, handling, disposal, or storage of hazardous waste in a manner causing an unreasonable risk of fire, explosion, serious injury, or death.
By Post Staff
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price this week announced that on June 28 the Alameda County Criminal Grand Jury issued a 10-count indictment against Radius Recycling Inc. (formerly Schnitzer Steel), along with two company managers on charges that stem from crimes related to a two-day scrap metal fire on Aug. 9-10, 2023, at the company’s West Oakland metal-shedding facility.
The unsealed indictment alleges that Radius/Schnitzer, Daniel Woltmann, and Dane Morales committed numerous felony health and safety code violations, including recklessly emitting an air contaminant that caused great bodily injury or death and reckless treatment, handling, disposal, or storage of hazardous waste in a manner causing an unreasonable risk of fire, explosion, serious injury, or death.
Woltmann and Morales are charged with conspiracy to violate California’s Health and Safety Code. Woltmann is also charged with felony conspiracy to intentionally destroy or conceal evidence, and all defendants are charged with misdemeanor intentional destruction or concealment of evidence, misdemeanor violations of Department of Toxic Substances Control (“DTSC”) and Bay Area Air Quality Monitoring District (“BAAQMD”) regulations, and misdemeanor negligent and reckless release of air contaminants.
If convicted on all counts and allegations in the indictment, Radius/Schnitzer’s potential criminal fine ranges from $625,000 to over $33 million, while Woltmann’s potential criminal fine ranges from $625,000 to over $31 million, and Morales’ possible criminal fine is over $1milliion.
Additionally, each of the felonies with which Woltmann and Morales are charged is punishable with a maximum sentence of three years in County Jail.
As alleged in the indictment, the investigation revealed that in the days leading up to the fire, Radius/Schnitzer continued to accumulate scrap metal containing hazardous wastes despite equipment failures, knowingly storing materials in unsafe conditions.
“This Grand Jury indictment represents the results thus far of my office’s nearly year-long investigation, which we publicly announced days after the fire in August 2023,” said Price.
“Under my leadership,” she continued, “the District Attorney’s Office will not let corporate criminals who poison vulnerable communities for profit get off with a slap on the wrist… Today, we say that ‘business as usual is over.’
“Our investigation continues,” said Price, urging people who whose health suffered because of the fire to contact investigators at askcjb-da@acgov.org or (510) 383-8600.
