American Telephone & Telegraph Company, Water Pollution, PA 1994

Reading, PA – Telecommunications giant American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T) was slapped with a $175,000 fine in January 1994 after admitting to negligently polluting a tributary of the Schuylkill River. The case, brought by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a pattern of unauthorized discharges exceeding limits set by the company’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

The investigation centered on AT&T’s Reading Works facility and its wastewater treatment system. Specifically, authorities focused on an air stripping tower designed to remove toxic pollutants from groundwater contaminated by leaking underground storage tanks. Instead of effectively treating the water, AT&T was found to be discharging wastewater containing levels of pollutants that violated federal clean water standards. The company’s failure to adhere to its NPDES permit raised concerns about the ecological health of the receiving waterway and potential risks to public health.

However, the environmental violations extended beyond simple negligence. Federal prosecutors uncovered evidence that AT&T deliberately falsified reports submitted to state regulators – specifically, Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs). These DMRs are crucial for tracking pollutant levels and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. The submission of inaccurate data created a false picture of the facility’s performance and obstructed the EPA’s oversight efforts.

The case unfolded in two parallel tracks. While AT&T accepted responsibility through a guilty plea and the hefty fine, the EPA also pursued criminal charges against Kurt Kring, an Environmental Engineer at the Reading Works. Kring was indicted in November 1993 on 17 counts, alleging violations of the Clean Water Act, making false statements, and willfully causing an illegal act to be done. He was directly responsible for the operation of the air stripping tower and the preparation of the falsified DMRs.

In March 1994, Kring pled guilty to two counts – one related to false statements and another for negligently violating effluent limitations. His sentencing, handed down in June 1994, included six months of home confinement, a 36-month probationary period, and a $5,000 fine. The relatively lenient sentence for Kring, compared to the corporate fine levied against AT&T, has drawn criticism from some environmental advocacy groups who argue that individual accountability is often overshadowed in cases involving large corporations.

The AT&T case serves as a stark reminder of the potential for environmental damage stemming from industrial operations and the importance of accurate reporting to regulatory agencies. The EPA continues to aggressively pursue enforcement actions against companies and individuals who prioritize profit over environmental protection. This case underscores the critical role of environmental engineers in ensuring compliance and the consequences of deliberately misleading authorities.

Key Facts

• Defendant: American Telephone & Telegraph Company
• Location: Reading, Pennsylvania
• Year: 1994
• Crime: Negligent discharge of pollutants into a tributary of the Schuylkill River and falsifying environmental reports.
• Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A) (negligently violating effluent limitations), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4)(A) (false statements regarding water discharge), 18 U.S.C. 1001 (false statement), 18 U.S.C. 2 (willfully causing an illegal act to be done).
• Penalties: AT&T – $175,000 fine. Kurt Kring – 6 months home confinement, 36 months probation, $5,000 fine.
• The case involved falsified Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) submitted to state regulators.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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