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FLORIDA WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY AND OWNER PLEAD TO CLEAN WATER ACT CHARGES

Release Date: 06/15/2000
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FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2000
FLORIDA WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY AND
OWNER PLEAD TO CLEAN WATER ACT CHARGES

South Bay Utilities, Inc., of Sarasota County, Fla., and its president Paul L. Paver, pleaded guilty on June 7, in U.S. District Court in Tampa, to violating the Clean Water Act by discharging inadequately treated sewage directly into Dryman Bay. Under the plea agreement, South Bay Utilities will pay a fine of $315,000, pay $309,000 to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Ecosystem Management and Restoration Trust Fund and pay $400,000 to the Sarasota County Pollution Recovery Trust Fund. The plea agreement calls for Paver to pay a fine of $205,000 and pay $250,000 in restitution to the Middle District of Florida Environmental Restitution Trust Fund. Inadequately treated sewage often contains high concentrations of E.coli bacteria and pathogens, which can cause a variety of infections in humans and can harm fish and other aquatic life. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center, EPA’s Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Sarasota County Office of Pollution Control and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa.

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