Two Men Charged With
Violating Clean Water Act in Tennessee
July 15, 2005
James M. Holden, operator of the Mount
Pleasant, Tenn., wastewater treatment plant; and Marty Roddy, a
plant employee; were charged on June 20 in U.S. District Court
for the Middle District of Tennessee with submitting false
wastewater treatment reports in violation of the Clean Water
Act.
The charges allege that on 21 dates from
January 2002 to October 2003, Roddy's initials appeared on test
reports despite the fact that Roddy was absent from work on
those days. Holden is accused of submitting the reports to the
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).
The allegations further state that the 21
reports were inaccurate. Spot testing by TDEC found fecal
coliform bacteria levels that were as much as 20,000 times
greater than stated in the reports. Releasing wastewater with
high levels of fecal coliform bacteria can present a health
hazard to people and animals who come into contact with surface
waters.
The case was investigated by special agents
assigned to the Atlanta Area Office of EPA's Criminal
Investigation Division with support from TDEC. It is being
prosecuted by the U.S. attorney's office in the Middle District
of Tennessee.
Source: EPA July 15, 2005
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