SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – In a disturbing case of environmental neglect, APC Paper Group of New York, Inc., a paper mill in Norfolk, New York, has pleaded guilty to negligently discharging wastewater into the Raquette River between 2013 and 2015, in violation of the Clean Water Act.
The company, which operates a paper mill in Norfolk, New York, admitted in court that between January 2013 and September 2015, its facility repeatedly violated the daily maximum and monthly average limits of bio-chemical oxygen demand (“BOD”) in its wastewater discharges into the Raquette River. BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen necessary for microorganisms in the water to break down organic material.
APC Paper Group further admitted that its negligence led to the illegal discharges of wastewater containing excessive amounts of BOD. The company’s failure to supervise its employees and verify the accuracy of discharge reports contributed to the violations.
According to the plea agreement, a former employee, Michael Ward, was aware of the BOD exceedances, failed to report them to his superiors at APC Paper Group, and prepared false and fraudulent monthly reports that were submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
“In pleading guilty today, APC Paper Group accepted responsibility for its paper mill’s negligent discharges of polluted wastewater into the Raquette River, and for its failure to supervise adequately the responsible employee,” said United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith. “Securing environmental compliance and appropriate corporate and individual accountability for illegal pollution are the key components of our continuing commitment to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to enforce vigorously the laws that protect our air, water, and land for the benefit of all.”
The company was sentenced to a fine of $125,000 and to an environmental compliance plan requiring specific actions on the part of APC Paper Group until January 1, 2020. United States Magistrate Judge David E. Peebles imposed the recommended sentence, including the $125,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID), the New York State DEC, Division of Law Enforcement and Bureau of Environmental Conservation Investigations Unit (BECI).
Defendant: APC Paper Group of New York, Inc.
Criminal Charges: Violating the Clean Water Act
City and State: Syracuse, New York
Crime Date: Between 2013 and 2015
Sentence: $125,000 fine and environmental compliance plan
Date: May 25, 2023
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Environmental Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Environmental CrimesEnvironmental CrimesEnvironmental CrimesEnvironmental Crimes