Russell Bliss

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Russell Bliss was a waste hauler contracted to spray oil on the dirt roads of Times Beach, Missouri. In doing so, Bliss unknowingly contaminated the town with dioxin and other chemicals that he'd mixed with the oil. The contamination forced residents to evacuate the town, and Times Beach became a notorious Superfund site. Bliss apologized for his actions in 1983, but was never convicted of any wrongdoing.

Bliss was hired by the community in 1971, and sprayed the streets for two years. At the same time, he'd been hired by Northeastern Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company (NEPACCO) to dispose of highly-toxic chemical waste. Bliss claimed he was unaware that NEPACCO's waste contained dioxin.

Bliss had first used the technique of spraying waste oil to control dust in horse stables. When a March 1971 spraying resulted in the deaths of 62 horses, the owners of the stable suspected Bliss, who assured them it was just used engine oil. However, after other stables experienced similar problems, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention began an investigation.