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PA PENNSYLVANIA CITY PLEADS GUILTY TO CLEAN WATER ACT FELONIES
Release Date: 04/11/97
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1997
PENNSYLVANIA CITY PLEADS GUILTY TO CLEAN WATER ACT FELONIES
The city of Bethlehem, Pa., pleaded guilty on April 4, in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, Pa., to three felony counts of violating the federal Clean Water Act in connection with effluent testing and reporting at its sewage treatment plant from July 1993 to April 1994. The city admitted it exceeded holding times for wastewater samples which were required to be analyzed daily for fecal coliform and biochemical oxygen demand. It further admitted failing to notify EPA and the state of this violation as required by its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit. Finally, it admitted to falsely stating on discharge monitoring reports that testing had been performed daily. The city and prosecution have recommended to the court that the city pay a $250,000 fine, perform supplemental environmental projects costing at least $250,000, have the publicly owned treatment works audited by an outside firm and that the city be placed on probation for three years. This case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division.
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