Jerry’s Metal Finishing, Pollution, MO 2009

St. Clair, MO – Jerry’s Metal Finishing, a metal finishing facility located in St. Clair, Missouri, has been sentenced following a guilty plea to violating the Clean Water Act. The company was penalized for discharging pollutants into the sanitary sewer system, exceeding permitted levels and threatening local water quality.

The case, pursued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and investigated with the assistance of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, centered on violations of pretreatment standards. These standards are designed to ensure that industrial facilities remove harmful pollutants from their wastewater before it enters publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). Monitoring equipment installed on the dedicated sanitary sewer line connected to Jerry’s Metal Finishing revealed consistent exceedances of these crucial limits.

According to court documents, Jerry’s Metal Finishing was initially charged on May 11, 2009, with one count of violating the Clean Water Act, specifically 33 U.S.C. 1317(d). This section of the law addresses the prohibition of violating toxic and pretreatment effluent standards. The EPA alleges the company failed to adequately treat its wastewater, allowing harmful substances to enter the sewer system, potentially overburdening the local wastewater treatment plant and posing risks to the environment.

On June 12, 2009, Jerry’s Metal Finishing entered a guilty plea to the single charge. Following the plea, the court imposed a sentence of 12 months probation. In addition to probation, the company was ordered to pay $3,292 in restitution to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to cover costs associated with the investigation and remediation efforts. A federal fine of $5,000 was also levied against the company.

This case underscores the EPA’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and holding industrial facilities accountable for their pollution control practices. Failure to adhere to pretreatment standards can result in significant penalties, as demonstrated in this instance. The EPA routinely monitors industrial discharges and works with state partners to identify and address violations of the Clean Water Act, ensuring the protection of the nation’s waterways.

While the financial penalties in this case may seem modest, legal experts suggest that the probation period and required restitution serve as a significant deterrent. Continued non-compliance could lead to more severe consequences, including increased fines, facility shutdowns, and even criminal charges against company officials. This case serves as a warning to other facilities operating in Missouri and across the nation: environmental regulations are not merely suggestions, but legally binding requirements.

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Key Facts

Defendant: Jerry’s Metal Finishing
Location: St. Clair, Missouri
Year: 2009
Crime: Violation of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1317(d)) – violating toxic and pretreatment effluent standards
Penalty: $5,000 fine, $3,292 restitution to Missouri DNR, 12 months probation
Investigating Agencies: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) & Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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