Clean Water Act Violators Receive Fines and Prison Terms
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has filed series of lawsuits and indictments for a host of Clean Water Act violations. Fines range from $400,000 to $1.25 million, and possible prison terms from 10 months to 15 years.
California Sewer Plant Operator Pleads Guilty to Multiple Charges
Raymond Guanill, who was district manager in charge of operations at the Rodeo Sanitary District Wastewater Treatment Plant in Rodeo, CA, pleaded guilty on Feb. 15 to violating the Clean Water Act.
The defendant admitted that he instructed his staff to allow wastewater to bypass a chlorine contact chamber, that he failed to report an overflow of sewage into San Pablo Bay and that he ordered plant operators to tamper with a monitoring test.
The plea agreement calls for Guanill to serve a 10-month prison term and one year of supervised release. The court will determine any fine at the time of sentencing.
Dairyman Indicted for Discharging Animal Waste to Fresh Water Sources
Joe Avis, owner and operator of the Joe Avis Dairy in Elk Grove, CA, was indicted on Feb. 24 for illegally discharging wastewater in violation of the Clean Water Act.
The indictment alleges that the defendant discharged animal waste containing urine, feces and wash water that flowed from the dairy into a drain that leads to Stone Lake and the Sacramento River. The discharges occurred on five occasions from January 1995 through February 1999. Dairy waste in surface waters can cause intestinal and other infections in people and can also be harmful to aquatic organisms and wildlife.
Avis faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $1.25 million fine.
Delaware Company Pleads Guilty to Improper Sampling Charges
Delaware-based International-Matex Tank Terminals (IMTT), which owns and operates a tank farm terminal that stores a variety of oils and other substances in St. Rose, LA, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23 to violating the Clean Water Act.
The defendant admitted that between August 1996 and August 1998 it intentionally took stormwater discharge samples at places other than those required in its discharge permit. These samples did not adequately measure the discharge from the tank farm and these improper samples were then falsely submitted to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) as legitimate samples.
The plea agreement calls for the defendant to pay a $400,000 fine, $400,000 in restitution, serve five years probation and develop annual training for its employees concerning applicable environmental laws.
Poultry Executive Indicted on 55 Counts of "Negligently Violating" the CWA
John R. McCarty, of Jackson, MS, was indicted on 55 counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act on Feb. 23. McCarty is a former corporate officer of Central Industries Inc., which operates a rendering plant in Forest, MI.
McCarty allegedly failed to correct problems at Central Industries that led to numerous discharges of improperly treated wastewater into Shockaloo Creek between May and July 1995.
Each year the facility processes thousands of tons of entrails, blood, feathers and waste from six chicken slaughterhouses and as a result, large amounts of wastewater contain pollutants including ammonia, nitrogen, fecal coliform bacteria, oil, grease, suspended solids and rotting material.
By allowing these wastes to be discharged into the Shockaloo Creek, a tributary of the Pearl River, McCarty allegedly exposed drinking water supplies to potential contaminants. Exposure to contaminated drinking water can cause intestinal and other infections in humans and is also harmful to aquatic organisms and wildlife.
Edited by Tracy Fabre