Syracuse, NY – General Super Plating Co., Inc. was slapped with a $25,000 fine in 2016 after pleading guilty to federal environmental crimes, according to court records obtained by GrimyTimes. The metal finishing company knowingly mishandled hazardous waste and illegally discharged pollutants into the city’s wastewater system, demonstrating a pattern of negligence and disregard for environmental regulations.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigation revealed that between August 5, 2014, and September 25, 2014, General Super Plating Co. repeatedly violated the terms of its industrial wastewater discharge permit. The company discharged wastewater containing dangerously high levels of chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc into the Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant (POTW). These exceedances of pretreatment standards posed a significant threat to the POTW’s ability to effectively treat wastewater and protect the environment.
Further compounding the violations, investigators discovered that on or around September 25, 2014, the company illegally stored and disposed of a chromium-laden water filter in a regular dumpster – a clear violation of hazardous waste handling protocols. The filter, exhibiting excessive levels of the toxic metal, was disposed of without the necessary permits or proper containment, potentially contaminating surrounding areas.
The EPA’s criminal enforcement case highlighted a concerning trend of industrial facilities prioritizing cost-cutting measures over environmental compliance. Sources within the EPA, speaking on background, indicated that the POTW had repeatedly warned General Super Plating Co. about its discharge violations prior to the federal investigation. The company allegedly failed to take adequate corrective action, leading to the criminal charges.
Key Facts
- Defendant: General Super Plating Co., Inc.
- Location: Syracuse, New York
- Year of Plea: 2016
- Violated Statutes: Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A)) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A))
- Specific Crimes: Illegal hazardous waste disposal and negligent violation of wastewater discharge permit.
- Penalty: $25,000 fine
- Pollutants Discharged: Chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc
The guilty plea serves as a reminder that environmental crimes carry significant legal and financial consequences. Federal prosecutors emphasized that the penalties imposed on General Super Plating Co., Inc. are intended to deter other companies from engaging in similar illegal activities and to ensure the protection of public health and the environment. The case underscores the EPA’s commitment to aggressively pursuing and prosecuting those who knowingly or negligently violate federal environmental laws.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and investigate other potential environmental violations within the Syracuse area. Readers with information regarding environmental crimes are encouraged to contact the EPA’s hotline or local law enforcement agencies.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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