Windsor Locks, CT – Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation was sentenced Monday to five years of probation and a hefty $12 million penalty for systematically violating the Clean Water Act, federal prosecutors announced. The aerospace giant admitted to knowingly discharging improperly analyzed wastewater into the Farmington River and falsifying reports to conceal the illegal pollution.
According to court documents, between 2001 and 2003, Hamilton Sundstrand manipulated data from its wastewater treatment system, specifically the hexavalent chromium reduction system, to avoid reporting violations of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. When tests revealed levels of hexavalent chromium exceeding permitted limits, the company either omitted the data entirely or altered the results before submitting monthly reports to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP). This deliberate deception allowed the company to continue polluting the Farmington River without facing regulatory scrutiny.
The scheme extended beyond data manipulation. On August 29, 2003, during a Labor Day weekend, employees transferred a highly concentrated and contaminated solution into the wastewater treatment system. This resulted in over 100,000 gallons of wastewater turning blue due to the high copper content. Rather than halt the discharge or notify authorities, Hamilton Sundstrand knowingly released tens of thousands of gallons of this untreated wastewater into the Farmington River, further exacerbating the pollution. Subsequent analysis revealed copper concentrations far exceeding legal limits and violations of aquatic toxicity standards.
Legal Ramifications & Penalties
Hamilton Sundstrand pled guilty to two counts of violating the Clean Water Act, specifically 33 U.S.C. 1342 relating to the NPDES system and 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A). The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson, includes a $1 million federal fine and $11 million in restitution. The restitution funds will be directed towards several ecosystem management projects within the Farmington River Basin, addressing water quality impacts from farmland runoff, and developing an electronic data management system for environmental monitoring.
Environmental Remediation & Future Compliance
Beyond the financial penalties, Hamilton Sundstrand is mandated to undertake significant environmental upgrades estimated to cost $5.6 million. These improvements include eliminating all process wastewater discharges to the Farmington River, expanding and reconfiguring wastewater treatment facilities, and implementing a robust environmental compliance and training program. The company is also required to contribute $2.4 million – a grant payment received from the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control – to the Connecticut Statewide SEP Account. Regular progress reports and certification of compliance from the company president will be required to ensure adherence to the court’s orders.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
- Crime: Clean Water Act Violations (Data Falsification & Illegal Discharge)
- Location: Windsor Locks, Connecticut
- Year: 2007
- Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1342, 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A)
- Penalty: $1 million fine, $11 million in restitution, 5 years probation, and mandated environmental upgrades.
- Pollutants: Hexavalent Chromium, Copper
- River Impacted: Farmington River
While authorities stated they have not determined any lasting environmental harm or threat to public health resulting from the company’s actions, the case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of environmental compliance and the consequences of prioritizing profit over protecting our waterways. The investigation was a joint effort by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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