Richmond, VA – A former supervisor at Rehrig International, one of the nation’s largest shopping cart manufacturers, was sentenced in June 2001 after admitting to intentionally manipulating wastewater discharge monitoring equipment. Gregory Dant’s actions allowed the company to evade environmental regulations and illegally discharge pollutants into the City of Richmond’s sewer system.
According to court documents, Rehrig International repeatedly exceeded permitted limits for chromium and nickel in its wastewater discharges throughout 1998. The City of Richmond issued multiple notices of violation and initiated administrative enforcement actions, yet the illegal discharges continued. Investigators discovered Dant, responsible for wastewater treatment oversight, knowingly tampered with the automated sampling device used to measure the effluent.
Dant’s scheme involved diluting collected wastewater samples with clean tap water *before* the device could analyze them, effectively masking the true levels of pollutants being released. This manipulation directly violated the Clean Water Act and obstructed accurate reporting to environmental authorities. The EPA’s criminal investigation uncovered a deliberate attempt to conceal non-compliance and avoid potential penalties.
Corporate Responsibility
The investigation didn’t stop with Dant. Rehrig International itself was charged with failing to properly operate and maintain its pollution control equipment, contributing to the ongoing violations. The company ultimately pled guilty to two counts of violating the Clean Water Act. This case highlights the EPA’s commitment to holding both individuals *and* corporations accountable for environmental crimes.
Sentencing and Penalties
On April 2, 2001, Dant pled guilty to one count of tampering with monitoring equipment, specifically 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4). He was sentenced on June 18, 2001, to seven months of incarceration, followed by a 60-month probation period. In addition to imprisonment and supervision, Dant was fined $7,500 and ordered to deliver three public speeches regarding the importance of environmental compliance. Rehrig International, convicted of violating 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A), received a sentence of 400 hours of community service, a $10,000 community project fine, and a substantial $490,000 federal fine.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Gregory Dant
- Company Involved: Rehrig International
- Location: Richmond, Virginia
- Year: 2001
- Crime: Tampering with wastewater monitoring equipment and violating the Clean Water Act.
- Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4) & 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A)
- Penalties: Dant – 7 months incarceration, 60 months probation, $7,500 fine, 3 speeches. Rehrig – 400 hours community service, $10,000 project fine, $490,000 federal fine.
This case serves as a stark reminder that environmental regulations are not merely suggestions, but legally binding requirements. The EPA continues to aggressively pursue criminal enforcement actions against those who prioritize profit over the health of our waterways and communities.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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