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Missouri Company Owner Admits Discharging Sewage Illegally

Release Date: 10/01/2003
Contact Information:


Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / [email protected]

(10/01/2003) David S. Coldewe of St. Charles, Mo., pled guilty on Sept. 19 to illegally discharging sewage into a tributary of the Femme Osage River. Coldewe was the owner and operator of the Hueffmeier Septic Company, which is also known as C&H Septic. Neither he nor the company possessed a permit allowing discharge of pollutants into U.S. waters. The defendant admitted he drove his septic truck in April to a location near the Busch Wildlife Area and discharged its sludge contents into a tributary of the Femme Osage River. Discharging sludge into surface waters can be harmful to fish and wildlife and can make the waters unsafe for drinking and recreational purposes. When sentenced, Coldewe faces a maximum sentence of up to three years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (St. Louis) and by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in St. Louis.