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INDIANA MEN INDICTED FOR ILLEGAL SEWER DISCHARGE

Release Date: 04/19/2001
Contact Information:


FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2001
INDIANA MEN INDICTED FOR ILLEGAL SEWER DISCHARGE

Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / hester.luke@epa.gov


Henry L. Hall of Sharpsville, Ind., and Clifford E. Gray, Jr., of Carmel, Ind., both former Chrysler officials, were indicted on April 11 on charges of violating the Clean Water Act. Hall, former Plant Engineering Supervisor at Chrysler’s Kokomo Transmission Plant, and Gray, former Plant Environmental and Hazardous Material Control Administrator, allegedly caused the construction of two temporary bypass lines that allowed 90,000 gallons of untreated coolant oils and 45,000 gallons of rinse water used in the manufacturing process to enter into the sewer system owned by the City of Kokomo. These waste fluids allegedly exceeded the concentration limits for waste oil and grease contained in the Kokomo sewer ordinance. Discharging higher than allowed concentrations of oil and grease into sewers can create a fire hazard and can damage sewage treatment equipment and prevent the proper treatment of sewage. If convicted on all charges, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of up to six years in prison and/or a maximum fine of up to $500,000. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI with the assistance of EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Indianapolis. An indictment is an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law.

R-058 ###