Two former owners of Freedom Industries pleaded guilty yesterday to environmental violations stemming from last year's Charleston chemical spill that prompted a temporary tap water ban for 300,000 residents, the Associated Press reported yesterday. At separate hearings, William Tis and Charles Herzing entered the pleas to causing an unlawful discharge of a coal-cleaning agent into the Elk River. Each faces up to a year in prison when sentenced June 22. They also face fines of $25,000 per day per violation, or $100,000 — whichever is greater.
