UW professor pleads guilty to illegal dumping

A University of Washington pharmacology professor pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges of illegally dumping a chemical down a laboratory sink.

Daniel Storm, 62, last June broke open five containers of ethyl ether with an ax and dumped the contents, according to a release by the U.S. Department of Justice. UW health and safety inspectors had surveyed Storm's lab and determined that five containers of ethyl ether, which is highly flammable, needed to be disposed, but Storm didn't want to pay $15,000 out of a lab operations account to get rid of the substance properly. Storm then concealed the dumping, according to the Justice Department.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors have recommended Storm be given probation when he is sentenced June 18. He faces a maximum five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Storm continues to work at the UW, where he faces an internal disciplinary process.