Agents from the Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Section Thursday filed criminal charges against two York County men accused of illegally transporting and storing hazardous waste in Newberry Township and York Haven, York County.

Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane identified the defendants as Neal Connelly, 41, 223 Carlisle Ave., York and Daniel Wert, 24, 5032 Bull Road, Dover. Connelly is the former owner and operator of Neal's Wheels, 900 Pleasant Grove Road, York Haven.

Connelly and Wert illegally transported and stored a 55-gallon drum of hazardous waste at Wert's residence in Newberry Township, according to the criminal complaint. The drum was sampled and found to contain high levels of benzene.

The charges state that Connelly illegally stored three 55-gallon drums of hazardous waste at his former business property in York Haven. The drums tested positive for benzene, tetrachloroethylene and/or lead. Neither Connelly nor Wert allegedly had a permit from the Department of Environmental Protection to transport or store hazardous waste.

Connelly is charged with eight counts of unlawful conduct under the Solid Waste Management Act and one count of criminal conspiracy. Wert is charged with five counts of unlawful conduct under the Solid Waste Management Act and one count of criminal conspiracy.

Kane thanked the Department of Environmental Protection for their assistance in the investigation. The case will be prosecuted in York County by Chief Deputy Attorney General Glenn Parno of the Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Section.

A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

NewsClip: 2 Charged With Storing Hazardous Waste In York Haven

8/26/2013