Crystal Extrusion Systems, LTD, Water Pollution, MO 2008

Kansas City, MO – Crystal Extrusion Systems, LTD. has been penalized for illegally discharging pollutants into a Missouri waterway, according to court documents unsealed this week. The company, based in Missouri, pled guilty to negligently violating the Clean Water Act (CWA) and was sentenced in November 2007, though details of the case have remained largely under the radar until now.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated the criminal enforcement action after discovering that Crystal Extrusion Systems was allowing untreated hydraulic oil and other industrial constituents to flow directly into a nearby waterway through a storm sewer system. Critically, this discharge occurred *without* the necessary permits required by the CWA, effectively circumventing environmental safeguards designed to protect public health and the ecosystem.

Investigators determined the unlawful discharge was not accidental, but a result of operational negligence. While the exact quantity of pollutants released remains undisclosed, the EPA deemed the violation significant enough to warrant criminal prosecution. The company was formally charged on September 20, 2007, with one count of negligent violation of the Clean Water Act, specifically citing 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A).

Facing federal charges, Crystal Extrusion Systems opted to plead guilty. The sentencing, handed down on November 16, 2007, included a $125 special assessment fee, $3,329.50 in restitution paid to the state of Missouri to cover damages and cleanup costs, and a substantial $50,000 federal fine. The restitution aims to address the environmental impact caused by the illegal discharge, while the fine serves as a deterrent against future violations.

Environmental advocacy groups have expressed concern that penalties like these, while present, are often insufficient to truly discourage industrial polluters. “The financial hit, while notable, may be simply a cost of doing business for larger corporations,” stated a representative from the Missouri chapter of Clean Water Action. “Stronger enforcement and more significant penalties are needed to ensure genuine compliance with environmental regulations.”

The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the EPA in monitoring and prosecuting violations of the Clean Water Act. Despite decades of environmental legislation, illegal discharges continue to threaten waterways across the country. GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and investigate other instances of environmental crime.

Key Facts

Defendant: Crystal Extrusion Systems, LTD.
Location: Missouri
Year: 2008 (Plead Guilty 2007)
Crime: Negligent violation of the Clean Water Act
Statute Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A)
Penalties: $125 special assessment, $3,329.50 restitution to Missouri, $50,000 federal fine
Details: Untreated hydraulic oil and other constituents discharged into a waterway via a storm sewer without a permit.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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