Firm, 2 Officials Charged With Putting Toxics in Bay

Zarcon Corp., a San Diego company that removes paint from ships by sandblasting, has been indicted on charges of dumping the toxic wastes into San Diego Bay, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Also named in the three-count indictment were two top Zarcon executives--Chief Executive Officer James D. Kuvelas, 43, of El Cajon and Secretary-Treasurer Jack D. Kuvelas, 38, of Spring Valley.

The indictment charges the company and its two officers with violating the federal Clean Water Act by discharging pollutants into San Diego Bay on three occasions without permission of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The company discharged the sandblast waste--which contains such toxics as arsenic, lead, copper, mercury and zinc--into the bay on Nov. 19, 1987, from the foot of A Street, the indictment says.

Sandblast wastes also were discharged March 3 and March 9 from a floating dry dock at the 32nd Street Naval Station, the indictment alleges.

Melanie K. Pierson, Assistant U.S. Atty. in charge of the case, said Tuesday that the charges stem from an investigation that began with the Naval Investigative Service.