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CALIFORNIA COMPANY AND OWNERS INDICTED ON WATER LAW CHARGES
Release Date: 04/05/2001
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2001
CALIFORNIA COMPANY AND OWNERS
INDICTED ON WATER LAW CHARGES
Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / hester.luke@epa.gov
INDICTED ON WATER LAW CHARGES
Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / hester.luke@epa.gov
New Age Metal Finishing and James Roby of Fresno, Calif., and Michael Zalenski of Clovis, Calif., were indicted on March 29 on charges that they violated the Clean Water Act. The indictment alleges that the defendants directed some of their employees to return to the New Age facility when it was closed for business and then illegally discharge corrosive and toxic wastes containing copper, nickel, zinc and chromium into sewers that emptied into the Fresno public wastewater treatment facility. Illegal discharging of plating wastes into city sewers can prevent proper sewage treatment at treatment plants and can damage sewage treatment equipment. If convicted, Zalenski and Roby each face a maximum sentence of up to three years in prison and/or up to $250,000 in fines on each count, while the company faces a maximum sentence of up to $500,000 per count. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Criminal Investigation Branch of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control with the assistance of EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Fresno, Calif. An indictment is merely and allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law.
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