TAMMY BALDWIN COMMITTEES:
APPROPRIATIONS

COMMERCE

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LABOR, AND PENSIONS
WASHINGTON, DC 20510
February 14, 2017

The Honorable Jeff Sessions
United States Attorney General
Department of Justice

950 Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530

Attorney General Sessions,

I write to inquire as to the status of an investigation of the handling of chemical and hazardous
waste by Greif, Inc., including at Mid?America Steel Drum Company, Inc. sites in Milwaukee,
St. Francis and Oak Creek, Wisconsin. My of?ce was recently contacted by a whistleblower
who reports that he has been working with the Department of Justice?s Environmental Crimes
Section since June 2016 to support an investigation of serious and willful violations of federal
environmental and hazardous materials transportation law that may have put workers and the
community at great risk. However, deSpite the urgent nature of his allegations, he indicates that
the Department?s communication with him about this case ceased in December of last year.

The whistleblower?s account alleges serious violations of laws designed to protect human health
and the environment, as well as repeated failures to comply with requirements for hazardous
waste transportation, handling, and processing designed to safeguard workers and local
communities from exposure to the most toxic substances used in commerce.

This situation merits your immediate attention. I ask that you update me on the status
of the Department?s investigation and that you move expeditiously towards appropriate action on

these troubling allegations.

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,



Tammy Baldwin
United States Senator

CC: Jeffrey Wood, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources
Division

Deborah Harris, Chief, Environmental Crimes Section