George Scofield Company, Pollution, WA 1988

Tacoma, WA – The George Scofield Company, Inc. and its former superintendent, Robert Squyres, were convicted of federal crimes related to the illegal discharge of pollutants into the Tacoma City Waterway in 1988. The case, prosecuted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), highlights a pattern of negligence that contributed to the contamination of Commencement Bay and ultimately Puget Sound.

According to court documents, the readymix concrete plant, operated by Scofield in Tacoma, routinely discharged alkaline wastewater – a byproduct of cleaning concrete trucks – directly into the waterway without the required permits. This practice violated the Clean Water Act, designed to protect the nation’s navigable waters from pollution. Squyres, who held positions of both superintendent (prior to December 1986) and General Manager (after December 1986), oversaw the plant’s operations and was directly implicated in the unlawful discharges.

The EPA initiated its investigation after discovering that Scofield was operating in violation of both permitting requirements and the stipulations of its existing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The information filed on July 5, 1988, charged both the company and Squyres with two counts each of negligently discharging pollutants, a clear breach of federal environmental regulations. Investigators determined the discharges were not accidental, but stemmed from a systemic failure to adhere to environmental safeguards.

Facing mounting evidence, both the George Scofield Company and Robert Squyres entered guilty pleas on July 13, 1988, to the two counts leveled against them. The sentencing, handed down on September 22, 1988, reflected the severity of the offenses. The George Scofield Company was sentenced to a probationary period of 36 months and ordered to pay a substantial fine of $40,000. Squyres, personally held accountable for his role in the pollution, received 36 months of probation and was fined $10,000.

Table of Contents

Key Facts

Defendant: George Scofield Company, Inc. & Robert Squyres
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Crime: Illegal discharge of alkaline wastewater into the Tacoma City Waterway
Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A) and 33 U.S.C. 1346, violating sections 301(a) and 309(c)(1) of the Clean Water Act
Company Penalty: 36 months probation, $40,000 fine
Individual Penalty (Squyres): 36 months probation, $10,000 fine

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of corporate and individual responsibility in environmental protection. The EPA’s successful prosecution of the George Scofield Company and Robert Squyres demonstrates a commitment to enforcing the Clean Water Act and safeguarding the health of vital waterways like Puget Sound. The incident underscores the potential for significant financial and legal repercussions for those who prioritize profit over environmental compliance.

GrimyTimes will continue to follow environmental enforcement cases and report on those who put our waterways at risk.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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