Denis FERON

Denis Feron competed in the 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games as an alpine skier, but made headlines in the United States much later in his life. He settled in the USA and eventually became the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Chemetco, a Midwest copper smelter, which in the 1990s produced about 50% of US copper output from non-mined sources. Chemetco was closely monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) but federal indictments against Feron allege that he ordered the construction of a secret pipe through which millions of gallons of water containing heavy metals (including cadmium, lead, and zinc) and hazardous waste were dumped into nearby lakes and wetlands. This was discovered in 1996 by US inspectors. In 1999, Feron and five of his employees were charged with violating the US Clean Water Act. Rather than face trial, possible prison time up to five years and up to $250,000 in fines, Feron fled the country. As of 2008, he was still considered a fugitive, but he eventually paid a $500,000 fine and the charges were dropped.