DES MOINES, IA – Industrial laundry giant G & K Services was slapped with a hefty $450,000 federal fine after pleading guilty to negligent violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA), federal prosecutors announced. The company, based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, repeatedly exceeded permitted levels of oil and grease in its wastewater discharge from its Pleasant Hill, Iowa facility, jeopardizing the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) and the surrounding watershed.
The violations spanned a three-year period, from approximately October 2005 to August 16, 2008. According to court documents, G & K Services’ facility at 1325 Metro East Drive consistently discharged wastewater containing oil and grease concentrations exceeding the 400 mg/l limit stipulated in its pretreatment permit issued by the City of Des Moines. This permit, a crucial component of the CWA’s regulatory framework, aims to prevent industrial pollutants from overwhelming public wastewater treatment systems.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Ross A. Walters, in addition to the significant financial penalty, ordered G & K Services to fully comply with the terms of its permit with the Des Moines WRA and adhere to Ordinance No. 666 of the Pleasant Hill Municipal Code, which governs industrial waste discharge. The ruling underscores the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating violations of environmental regulations.
The case highlights the critical role of pretreatment programs in safeguarding public health and the environment. As U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt explained, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delegates authority to state and local entities to administer these programs, ensuring federal enforceability. “Improper disposal of wastewater endangers not only the environment but human health,” stated Michael Burnett, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Criminal Enforcement program for the Kansas City region. “This investigation prevented untold gallons of oily waste from being dumped into the Des Moines public treatment works and, ultimately, the area’s watershed.”
The investigation, a collaborative effort between the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Des Moines Metropolitan Waste Reclamation Authority, revealed a pattern of non-compliance that prompted federal intervention. The prosecution, handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, sends a clear message to other industrial facilities: environmental regulations are not merely suggestions, but legally binding requirements with significant consequences for violations.
Klinefeldt emphasized the commitment of his office to vigorously enforcing environmental laws, echoing the sentiments of President Obama and Attorney General Holder regarding responsible stewardship of the nation’s resources. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential for industrial activities to impact water quality and the importance of proactive environmental management.
Key Facts
- Defendant: G & K Services, Inc.
- Crime: Negligent violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA)
- Location: Pleasant Hill, Iowa
- Dates of Violation: October 2005 – August 2008
- Statute Violated: 33 U.S.C. § 1319(c)(1)(A)
- Penalty: $450,000 federal fine and court-ordered compliance with permit requirements.
- Investigating Agencies: EPA Criminal Investigation Division, Des Moines Metropolitan Waste Reclamation Authority
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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