Dennis Arnold, Clean Water Violation, MO 1999

St. Louis, MO – Former Alliance Water Resource (AWR) superintendent, Dennis Arnold, was sentenced in 1998 following a federal investigation into illegal sludge discharges into Missouri waterways. Arnold knowingly orchestrated a scheme to bypass environmental regulations and conceal evidence of pollution, demonstrating a blatant disregard for both the law and the health of local ecosystems.

The investigation, conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed that during a significant rainfall event in 1996, Arnold directed the discharge of sludge from AWR-operated treatment facilities. This action was a direct violation of the facility’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, which are designed to regulate and limit the release of pollutants into navigable waters. Arnold timed the discharges to coincide with anticipated high water flow in local creeks, hoping to wash away the evidence before it could be detected.

Further compounding the offense, Arnold submitted falsified Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. These reports, required by law, are intended to provide accurate data on pollutant levels. By knowingly providing false information, Arnold attempted to mislead regulators and conceal the extent of the illegal discharges. He then allegedly ordered AWR employees to actively grade the creek beds, physically removing any remaining sludge to further cover up the environmental violations.

Arnold was initially charged on April 13, 1998, with two counts of violating the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1319 – knowingly violates). He promptly entered a guilty plea on April 24, 1998. A subsequent indictment on August 6, 1998, added five counts of negligent violation of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A)). Arnold ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of the negligent violation on September 2, 1998.

On August 28, 1998, Arnold received a ten-month prison sentence, followed by a twelve-month probationary period. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 federal fine and a $200 special assessment fee. The sentencing served as a stark warning to others within the water treatment industry about the serious consequences of environmental crimes. Bender was sentenced on December 4, 1998 to six months incarceration, 24 months probation and a $100 special assessment fee.

Table of Contents

Key Facts

Defendant: Dennis Arnold
Location: Missouri
Year: 1999 (charges & sentencing occurred in 1998)
Crime: Illegal discharge of sludge and falsification of environmental reports.
Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319 (knowingly violates) and 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) (negligent violation) of the Clean Water Act.
Penalties: 10 months incarceration, 12 months probation, $5,000 fine, $200 special assessment.
Method: Ordered illegal discharges during rainfall to conceal evidence, falsified reports, and directed employees to remove sludge from creek beds.

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Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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