Aluminum Finishing Company, Inc., Violation of Clean Water Act, Connecticut 2005

Bridgeport, CT – Aluminum Finishing Company, Inc. and two of its employees faced federal charges and penalties in 2005 for illegally discharging polluted wastewater into waterways, violating the Clean Water Act. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a pattern of deliberate, after-hours releases of industrial waste, circumventing established environmental safeguards.

According to court documents, the violations occurred consistently on Friday nights, suggesting a calculated effort to evade monitoring and oversight. EPA sampling conducted on two separate Fridays confirmed that the wastewater discharged by Aluminum Finishing exceeded the limits stipulated in their state-issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. These permits are designed to regulate the quantity and quality of pollutants released from industrial facilities into U.S. waters.

The initial charges, filed on October 1, 2004, included four counts against the company itself, and one count each against employees Bass and Cinar, all stemming from negligent violations of the Clean Water Act – specifically 33 U.S.C. §1319(c)(1)(A). Investigators believe the illegal discharges contained process waste indicative of the metal finishing operations conducted at the Bridgeport facility.

The legal proceedings moved swiftly. Cinar entered a guilty plea and was sentenced on October 18, 2004, to 36 months of probation and a $5,000 federal fine. Shortly after, on the same date, Bass also pled guilty to the CWA violation and received an identical sentence of 36 months probation and a $5,000 federal fine. The company itself, Aluminum Finishing Company, Inc., ultimately pled guilty to all four counts on April 20, 2005.

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Penalties and Aftermath

The sentencing for Aluminum Finishing Company, Inc. included a 48-month probationary period and a substantial $40,000 in federal fines. While the financial penalties and probationary terms addressed the immediate violations, environmental advocates at the time questioned whether the consequences were sufficient to deter similar behavior by other industrial facilities. The case highlights the ongoing struggle to balance industrial activity with the protection of vital water resources.

The EPA’s criminal enforcement program aims to hold polluters accountable for their actions and to send a strong message that environmental crimes will not be tolerated. This case serves as a reminder that companies and individuals can face significant legal and financial repercussions for knowingly violating environmental regulations designed to safeguard public health and the environment.

Key Facts

Defendant: Aluminum Finishing Company, Inc., Bass, and Cinar
Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Year: 2005
Crime: Illegal discharge of industrial wastewater in violation of the Clean Water Act
Statute Violated: 33 U.S.C. §1319(c)(1)(A)
Penalties:
- Cinar: 36 months probation, $5,000 fine
- Bass: 36 months probation, $5,000 fine
- Aluminum Finishing Company, Inc.: 48 months probation, $40,000 fine

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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