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Former Alabama Plant Manager Agrees to Plead to Conspiracy Charge

Release Date: 06/23/2004
Contact Information:


Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819/ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov

(06/23/04) On May 26, Donald Harbin, who held various management positions from 1995-2001 at the McWane Cast Iron Pipe Company in Birmingham, Ala. agreed to plead guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to violate the Clean Water Act. During his tenure at McWane, the company allegedly discharged processed wastewater into Avondale Creek in violation of a federal discharge permit. Discharging wastewater in violation of a permit creates a potential risk to fish and wildlife and may make surface waters unfit for recreational and drinking water uses. The maximum sentence for conspiracy is up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000. The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Area Office of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Birmingham and the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.