HOWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ – Herbert Zschiegner was sentenced in September 1995 after pleading guilty to charges stemming from the illegal discharge of hazardous materials from his metal recovery operation, putting the drinking water supply of nearby Brick Township at risk. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a pattern of deliberate and negligent pollution of Haystack Brook and surrounding wetlands between 1990 and 1992.
Zschiegner’s operation, located in Howell Township, routinely released a cocktail of dangerous pollutants into the local environment. Investigators found evidence of acids, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, zinc, and iron being directly discharged into Haystack Brook, a tributary of the Metedeconk River. The Metedeconk River serves as a primary source of drinking water for the residents of Brick Township, raising serious public health concerns.
The illicit discharges weren’t limited to the brook. According to court documents, Zschiegner also directed employees to drain chemicals down sinks and toilets within the metal recovery facility. These plumbing fixtures were connected to a cesspool located adjacent to the business, effectively bypassing any potential treatment and allowing contaminants to seep into the groundwater and ultimately, Haystack Brook. This demonstrated a clear disregard for environmental regulations and public safety.
Zschiegner was initially indicted on six counts of violating the Clean Water Act (CWA) on January 18, 1995. He subsequently pled guilty to three counts on April 26, 1995, with the remaining charges dismissed as part of the plea agreement. However, the sentencing was complicated by a prior conviction. Zschiegner was already facing a 48-month sentence for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine in 1993, and the judge ordered the sentences for both the drug and environmental crimes to run concurrently.
In addition to the 48-month incarceration, Zschiegner was sentenced to 36 months of probation and slapped with a hefty $650,000 fine. The severity of the penalty reflects the egregious nature of the pollution and the potential danger posed to the community’s water supply. The case serves as a stark reminder of the EPA’s commitment to enforcing environmental laws and holding polluters accountable.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Herbert Zschiegner
- Location: Howell Township, New Jersey
- Years of Violation: 1990-1992
- Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A) – Clean Water Act (CWA) unlawful discharge of pollutants
- Pollutants Discharged: Acids, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, zinc, and iron
- Impact: Contamination of Haystack Brook and potential threat to the Metedeconk River, Brick Township’s drinking water source.
- Sentence: 48 months incarceration (concurrent with prior drug conviction), 36 months probation, $650,000 fine
GrimyTimes will continue to follow environmental crime cases and report on efforts to protect communities from pollution.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime