Joseph K. Davis, Clean Water Act Violation, DC 2003

Washington D.C. – Joseph K. Davis, a former employee of Cardinal Concrete Corporation, was sentenced in September 2003 after pleading guilty to falsifying reports submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The case, stemming from deliberate misreporting of wastewater discharge data, highlights ongoing concerns about industrial compliance with environmental regulations and the potential for pollution impacting the Anacostia River.

Davis, who worked at the Cardinal Concrete plant—a joint operation with CTI.D.C., Inc.—admitted to manipulating sample results for wastewater discharged in August and September of 2000. The concrete manufacturing process generates wastewater containing pollutants, and the Clean Water Act requires regular monitoring and accurate reporting of discharge levels to ensure compliance with permitted limits. Davis’s actions were designed to conceal violations of these standards.

Federal prosecutors brought the charge on November 9, 2001, alleging a single count of violating the Clean Water Act, specifically 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4), which criminalizes the making of false statements in reports required under the Act. The investigation, conducted by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, revealed a pattern of falsified data intended to mislead regulators about the plant’s environmental performance.

The consequences for Davis’s actions, while not involving imprisonment, were substantial. On September 9, 2003, Judge [Reporter’s Note: Sentencing judge’s name not available in source data] imposed a 36-month probation sentence. In addition to probation, Davis was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, pay a $100 special assessment fee, and remit a $2,000 federal fine. These penalties underscore the seriousness with which federal authorities view attempts to circumvent environmental laws.

The Anacostia River has long been a focus of restoration efforts due to decades of pollution. Cases like Davis’s demonstrate the persistent challenges in maintaining water quality and the necessity of vigilant oversight of industrial facilities. While Cardinal Concrete Corporation (a division of Florida Rock Industries, Inc.) isn’t explicitly named as a defendant in this case, the incident raises questions about the company’s internal controls and oversight procedures.

This case serves as a reminder that individuals can be held criminally liable for environmental violations, even when those violations occur within the context of corporate operations. The EPA continues to prioritize enforcement of the Clean Water Act to protect the nation’s waterways and ensure accountability for polluters.

Table of Contents

Key Facts

Defendant: Joseph K. Davis
Location: District of Columbia
Year: 2003
Crime: Falsifying Clean Water Act reporting forms
Statute Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4) – False Statements
Employer: Cardinal Concrete Corporation (division of Florida Rock Industries, Inc.)
Sentence: 36 months probation, 100 hours community service, $2,100 in fines/fees
Impacted Waterway: Anacostia River

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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