FCS, Inc., Water Pollution, Florida 2002

Largo, FL – FCS, Inc., doing business as Grease Depot, was sentenced in November 2001 following a guilty plea to violating the Clean Water Act (CWA). The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a deliberate attempt by the company to mislead local authorities regarding the quality of its wastewater discharge.

According to court documents, Grease Depot was permitted to discharge pre-treated wastewater into the Largo, Florida sewer system. However, in 1999, the company was found to be in violation of its permit, leading to increased wastewater treatment costs for the city. Rather than address the underlying issues, Grease Depot allegedly engaged in a scheme to conceal ongoing non-compliance.

In January 2000, the company commissioned wastewater testing by a private firm to measure Chemical Biological Oxygen Demand (CBOD) levels – a key indicator of pollutant load. While receiving full reports detailing all testing results, Grease Depot selectively submitted *only* the data that fell within permissible limits to the City of Largo. Reports indicating exceedances of CBOD limits were knowingly omitted, effectively masking the true extent of the pollution.

The EPA investigation determined this selective reporting constituted a violation of federal law. High CBOD levels in wastewater can significantly increase the burden on municipal sewage treatment plants, raising operational costs and potentially harming aquatic ecosystems if improperly treated effluent is released into surface waters. The City of Largo bore the financial brunt of Grease Depot’s deception, having to process more heavily polluted wastewater than anticipated.

Table of Contents

Toggle

Legal Ramifications

On July 13, 2001, Grease Depot was formally charged with violating sections 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A), 33 U.S.C. 1318, and 33 U.S.C. 1311(a) of the Clean Water Act. The company subsequently pled guilty on August 9, 2001. The sentencing, handed down on November 26, 2001, included a 24-month probationary period, a substantial $50,000 fine, $50,000 in restitution to the City of Largo to cover increased treatment costs, and $4,040.43 to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to reimburse investigative expenses.

Key Facts

Defendant: FCS, Inc. (Grease Depot)
Location: Largo, Florida
Crime: Violating the Clean Water Act through fraudulent reporting.
Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A), 33 U.S.C. 1318, 33 U.S.C. 1311(a)
Penalty: 24 months probation, $50,000 fine, $50,000 restitution, $4,040.43 investigative costs
Method: Selectively submitting wastewater testing results to conceal violations of CBOD limits.

This case underscores the EPA’s commitment to holding companies accountable for environmental violations and ensuring the integrity of wastewater discharge permitting programs. The deliberate falsification of data not only undermines regulatory oversight but also poses a direct threat to public health and the environment.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

Related Federal Cases