Fontana, CA – Christopher Jaramillo, former president of Starlite, a California-based industrial wastewater treatment company, has been sentenced to 36 months of probation and ordered to pay a $6,000 fine for repeatedly violating the Clean Water Act. The sentencing, handed down on June 27, 2022, concludes a case detailing a pattern of illegal discharges and deliberate tampering with environmental monitoring systems.
According to court documents, between November 2014 and June 2015, Jaramillo and others at Starlite knowingly discharged highly acidic wastewater into the publicly owned treatment works (POTW) operated by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency. This wastewater, with an average pH of 3, significantly fell below the permitted level of 5. The illegally discharged effluent then flowed onward to the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County POTW, potentially impacting downstream water quality and treatment processes.
Starlite functioned as a crucial intermediary for businesses needing to properly dispose of industrial wastewater. Companies contracted Starlite to treat their waste *before* it entered municipal systems. Jaramillo’s actions bypassed this critical treatment stage, essentially shifting the burden – and the cost – of proper wastewater management onto public utilities and potentially endangering the environment. Investigators discovered a deliberate scheme to circumvent regulations and conceal the unlawful discharges.
Tampering with Evidence
The EPA’s investigation revealed that Jaramillo didn’t simply discharge illegal levels of acidity; he actively attempted to cover it up. Evidence presented in court showed that Starlite employees, under Jaramillo’s direction, manipulated pH monitoring devices. This included placing probes within buckets of clean water, effectively masking the true, dangerously low pH levels of the wastewater being discharged. This tampering constituted a direct attempt to mislead regulators and evade compliance with environmental standards.
Legal Ramifications
Jaramillo was found guilty of violating two key sections of the Clean Water Act: 33 U.S.C. 1317(d), which prohibits the discharge of pollutants in violation of permit conditions, and 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A), which criminalizes tampering with monitoring methods required by the Act. The imposed penalty of 36 months probation and a $6,000 fine reflects the severity of the offenses, though environmental advocacy groups argue that the punishment is lenient given the scale and intentionality of the violations.
Looking Ahead
This case underscores the EPA’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and holding individuals accountable for polluting waterways. While Jaramillo has been sentenced, the long-term impact of the illegal discharges on the Inland Empire Utilities Agency and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County remains to be fully assessed. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible industrial waste management and the potential consequences of prioritizing profit over environmental protection.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Christopher Jaramillo
- Company: Starlite (industrial wastewater treatment)
- Location: Fontana, California
- Timeframe of Violations: November 2014 – June 2015
- Violations: Clean Water Act – 33 U.S.C. 1317(d), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A)
- Penalty: 36 months probation, $6,000 fine
- Method of Violation: Discharge of acidic wastewater (average pH of 3, below permitted 5) and tampering with pH monitoring devices.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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