9/25/2024
WT Staff
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September 25, 2024 748 pm EDT
CWA CrimeBox
Environmental Crimes Historic Conviction: Fiscal Year 2003; Case ID# CR_1637 (California)
Dairy wastewater escapes a retention pond to Santa Ana River, owner fined
One of 72 Clean Water Act Criminal Prosecutions in the State of California (from 1989-2023)
The defendant in this case is the party responsible for the management of a wastewater pond for a dairy farm operation. The wastewater would here include barn cleanings, raw manure and other contaminants, a hazardous waste material that cannot be discharged to the environment without treatment, monitoring and reporting.
The wastewater pond was breached, a cut in the earthen berm allowed fluid to escape to a drainage ditch leading to the Santa Ana River. The volume of discharge is not reported in the case briefing. The defendant was charged with three counts violation of the clean Water Act, knowingly discharging contaminants to US waters.
The defendant pled guilty to all three counts. The Federal District judge in California sentenced the defendant to a fine of $10,000 and two years of probation with a special assessment fee.
Federal Fine: $10,000; Special Assessment: $100; Probation: 24 months
CWA CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
See last week's CrimeBox here.
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