Lynnville, IN – Keith Miller, former representative of the Town of Lynnville’s Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW), was sentenced in March 2002 after pleading guilty to making false statements to Indiana’s Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a deliberate attempt to conceal the illegal discharge of industrial wastewater into the town’s sewage system.
According to court documents, Miller submitted falsified National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit applications on two separate occasions. These applications falsely claimed that the Lynnville POTW received no industrial process wastewater. However, records obtained from both the POTW itself and Waste Stream Technologies, Inc. – a company discharging into the system – contradicted these claims. Evidence showed at least 65 instances of unauthorized discharge, totaling approximately 318,526 gallons of industrial process wastewater.
The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division uncovered the discrepancies after routine oversight of the Lynnville POTW. The false reporting not only violated environmental regulations but also potentially jeopardized the POTW’s ability to accurately treat wastewater, potentially impacting the health of the local environment and residents. The concealment also circumvented required permitting fees and oversight associated with industrial wastewater discharge.
Legal Ramifications
Miller was initially charged on July 26, 2001, with one felony count of making false statements, a violation of Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code, Section 1001 (18 U.S.C. 1001), and the Clean Water Act. This federal statute prohibits knowingly making false or fraudulent statements to the United States government. The falsified NPDES applications directly fell under this legal prohibition, as they were submitted to state agencies acting on behalf of the federal government.
Sentencing and Aftermath
On March 25, 2002, Miller received a sentence of 12 months probation, with the first six months to be served under home detention. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and pay a $100 special assessment fee. While a relatively lenient sentence, the case serves as a warning to individuals responsible for environmental reporting that false statements to regulatory agencies will not be tolerated.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Keith Miller
- Location: Lynnville, Indiana
- Year: 2002
- Crime: False Statements regarding industrial wastewater discharge
- Statutes Violated: 18 U.S.C. 1001, Clean Water Act
- False Reporting: Miller claimed the Lynnville POTW received no industrial wastewater
- Actual Discharge: Approximately 318,526 gallons of industrial wastewater discharged on 65 occasions
- Penalty: 12 months probation (6 months home detention), 100 hours community service, $100 assessment
The GrimyTimes will continue to follow environmental crime cases and provide updates as they develop. Readers with information regarding environmental violations are encouraged to contact the EPA’s tip line.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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