American Fork, UT – A former corporate officer has been sentenced for knowingly polluting a municipal sewer system, causing significant damage and disruption to wastewater treatment facilities. Slade E. Barnett, Jr., 48, of Camano Island, Washington, was sentenced on January 22, 2014, following a guilty plea entered November 1, 2013, to violating the Clean Water Act.
Barnett, the principal agent for Denali Industries, LLC, located in American Fork, Utah, admitted to failing to prevent the illegal discharge of pollutants – including waste vegetable oil and tallow – into the city’s sewer system on multiple occasions in March and June of 2008. Despite knowing the potential for damage, Barnett took no action to stop the practice, which ultimately led to the failure of lift station pumps and a substantial blockage of approximately 300 feet of sewer line.
Industrial Negligence & Environmental Impact
Court documents detail how Denali Industries’ operations connected to the American Fork municipal sewer system via a complex network of trench drains, grease traps, and pressurized/gravity-fed lines ultimately leading to the Timpanogos Special Services District’s treatment plant. The repeated introduction of heavy grease and oil overwhelmed the system’s capacity, causing costly repairs and impacting the ability of the treatment plant to function effectively. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Utah emphasized this wasn’t a case of minor household waste, but a deliberate pattern of industrial negligence.
“This is not a case about somebody putting a little bacon grease down the sink at their home,” stated U.S. Attorney David B. Barlow. “This case is about a business introducing enough waste vegetable oil and tallow into the sewer system to cause parts of it to fail on at least three occasions within a three-month period.” The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of holding corporate leaders accountable for environmental crimes.
Legal Ramifications & Penalties
Barnett was initially charged with violating 33 U.S.C. 1319 (c)(2)(B) of the Clean Water Act, which prohibits knowingly introducing pollutants into sewer systems that could cause property damage. He ultimately received 48 months of probation and was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to cover the costs of repairing the damaged sewer infrastructure. The case underscores the EPA’s commitment to pursuing criminal enforcement against those who prioritize profit over environmental responsibility.
Jeffrey Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Utah, stated the plea “sends a clear message to other potential violators that companies and their senior executives that fail to dispose of their wastes legally and in an environmentally sound manner will be held responsible for their crimes.” This case serves as a stark reminder that environmental regulations are not merely suggestions, but legally binding obligations with significant consequences for non-compliance.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Slade E. Barnett, Jr.
- Crime: Illegal discharge of pollutants into a sewer system, violating the Clean Water Act.
- Location: American Fork, Utah
- Dates of Offense: March and June 2008
- Statute Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319 (c)(2)(B)
- Penalty: 48 months probation & $15,000 restitution
- Company Involved: Denali Industries, LLC
- Pollutants: Waste vegetable oil and tallow
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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