Jail For Ex-Renton Cop With 10-Acre Junkyard 'Iron Mountain'

RENTON, WA - The state Attorney General's office said Friday that a Renton man - a retired Renton cop - will go to jail for 30 days over the state of his property. Charles Pillon, 77, owns a 10-acre parcel along Renton Issaquah Road Southeast filled with junked vehicles and machines, known locally as "Iron Mountain."

Pillon was found guilty recently of charges of violation the Hazardous Waste Management Act and operating a car wrecking service without a license. In addition to jail time, Pillon was ordered to pay $15,000 in fines and clean up Iron Mountain. He was sentenced in King County Superior Court on Friday.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a press release:

The EPA report on the property found that "it is reasonable to conclude that dozens, perhaps hundreds, of these vessels contain hazardous substances and waste that include ignitable, corrosive, and/or toxic materials. The lack of control and management of these containers and their contents may present a substantial threat to human health and the environment. ... Given the haphazard waste management practices that have been utilized over the years, it is likely that many hundreds of chemical containers are present under the top layers of debris. These inaccessible containers may be subjected to many thousands of pounds of weight, pressure, and decaying environments that may facilitate a more rapid release of potentially hazardous contents. The known containerized hazardous substances present a threat of release to the environment."

This hazard is compounded by the location of Mr. Pillon's property. The site drains into May Creek and Lake Washington. It neighbors other residential sites, many of which rely on wells for drinking water. And it is only 2,000 feet from Apollo Elementary School in the Issaquah School District. Were the ignitable substances to start a fire on the property, it could present significant health and containment issues.

Seattle Weekly recently profiled Pillon and his property, exploring the history of Iron Mountain and Pillon's ideas about it.

Image via Google Maps