P.M. BRIEFING : N.Y. Fines Kodak $2.15 Million for Environmental Violations

Eastman Kodak Co. pleaded guilty today to dumping hazardous chemicals at its giant Kodak Park manufacturing plant and agreed to pay a record $2.15 million in fines and penalties.

Kodak pleaded guilty in Rochester City Court to unlawful dealing in hazardous wastes and failure to properly notify authorities of a chemical spill as part of plea bargain that concluded a 2-year investigation.

Judge Herman Waltz accepted the guilty pleas to the two misdemeanors but asked whether the state attorney general’s office and the Department of Environmental Conservation had let a white-collar criminal off the hook.

“I question the wisdom of accepting a plea in proceedings where persons who are criminals will be allowed to go free,” Walz said. “Kodak has admitted that it has committed criminal acts.

“It is this court’s view that white-collar criminals ought to be punished at least as severely as other types of criminals and perhaps worse because of the greater impact of their crimes.”

But Walz accepted the prosecution’s contention that the hefty fines “offer a more beneficial result to the public than serving jail time.”