Gregory Dant, Water Tampering, VA 2001

Richmond, VA – A former supervisor at Rehrig International, one of the nation’s leading shopping cart manufacturers, was sentenced in June 2001 following a federal investigation into violations of the Clean Water Act. Gregory Dant knowingly tampered with wastewater discharge monitoring equipment, attempting to conceal excessive levels of toxic metals released from the company’s Richmond facility into the city’s sewer system.

The scheme, uncovered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and pursued through the Department of Justice, involved Dant diluting collected wastewater samples with clean tap water. This manipulation occurred on multiple occasions in 1998, when Rehrig was consistently exceeding permitted limits for chromium and nickel in its discharges. The City of Richmond had previously issued multiple notices of violation and initiated administrative enforcement actions against Rehrig, but the tampering continued, hindering accurate assessment of the pollution levels.

Federal prosecutors charged Dant with violating 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4), specifically targeting the intentional tampering with monitoring methods and equipment required by the Clean Water Act. Dant ultimately pled guilty to the charge on April 2, 2001. Rehrig International itself was subsequently charged with two counts of violating 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A) – failing to properly operate and maintain its pollution control equipment – and also entered a guilty plea on June 20, 2001.

The sentencing handed down on June 18, 2001, reflected the seriousness of the offenses. Dant received a seven-month prison sentence, followed by a five-year probationary period. In addition to incarceration and supervision, he was ordered to deliver three public speeches regarding the importance of environmental compliance and fined $7,500. Rehrig International faced a substantial financial penalty, including $490,000 in federal fines and a $10,000 community project fine. The company was also mandated to perform 400 hours of community service.

The case highlights the EPA’s commitment to pursuing not only corporate polluters but also the individuals responsible for deliberately circumventing environmental regulations. “Tampering with environmental monitoring equipment is a serious crime that undermines the integrity of the Clean Water Act and puts public health at risk,” stated an EPA spokesperson at the time. The incident served as a warning to other industrial facilities that attempts to conceal pollution will be met with vigorous prosecution.

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Key Facts

Defendant: Gregory Dant
Company Involved: Rehrig International
State: Virginia
Year: 2001
Crime: Tampering with wastewater monitoring equipment
Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4) (Dant), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A) (Rehrig)
Penalties: Dant – 7 months incarceration, 5 years probation, $7,500 fine, 3 speeches. Rehrig – $490,000 federal fine, $10,000 community project fine, 400 hours community service.

The investigation revealed a pattern of disregard for environmental regulations at the Rehrig facility. While the company ultimately admitted fault and accepted the penalties, the case underscores the need for robust internal controls and a commitment to ethical conduct within industrial settings to prevent similar violations in the future.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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