Moline, IL – A former environmental coordinator for John Deere Harvester Works was sentenced earlier this month after pleading guilty to federal charges stemming from years of falsifying Clean Water Act reports. Leroy A. Hill, 60, of Davenport, Iowa, received one month of incarceration, twelve months of probation, and a $5,000 fine after admitting to knowingly concealing effluent violations from the City of Moline, Illinois.
Between 2000 and 2005, while employed as Environmental Coordinator at Deere’s Seeding and Cylinder Division, Hill was responsible for ensuring the facility’s wastewater discharge complied with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The permit, issued by the City of Moline and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mandated regular sampling and analysis of wastewater containing heavy metals – including chromium, nickel, copper, lead, and zinc – before it was discharged to the Moline Sewage Treatment Plant. Instead of truthfully reporting the results, Hill systematically failed to submit complete discharge monitoring reports (DMRs), deliberately omitting data that revealed violations of permit limits.
The EPA’s investigation, spearheaded by its Criminal Investigation Division, revealed that Hill specifically failed to report elevated levels of chromium and nickel detected in samples taken in May and July of 2004. He further admitted to falsely certifying reports sent to the City of Moline as “true, accurate, and complete” despite knowing they contained incomplete and misleading information. Had these violations been reported promptly, as required by the permit, Deere & Co. would have been obligated to notify the City of Moline within 24 hours and provide a written plan to address the issues.
Legal Ramifications
Hill was initially charged in May 2009 with 24 counts of violating the Clean Water Act, specifically 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) for knowingly violating the permit requirements, and one count of 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4) for making false statements. He also faced one count of violating 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2) for willfully causing a Clean Water Act false statement. He ultimately pleaded guilty to two counts of violating 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) and one count of 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4). Each violation of the Clean Water Act carries a potential penalty of up to three years imprisonment and a fine ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 per day of the violation. The false statement charge carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Industry Oversight
While the sentence handed down to Hill appears relatively lenient, the case underscores the EPA’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for environmental crimes. The incident raises questions about the oversight of industrial wastewater treatment programs and the potential for similar violations to occur undetected. Experts suggest that stricter monitoring and independent verification of data submitted by industrial facilities could help prevent future instances of non-compliance.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Leroy A. Hill
- Location: Moline, Illinois
- Company: John Deere Harvester Works
- Years of Violation: 2000-2005
- Laws Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4), 18 U.S.C. 1001(a)(2)
- Contaminants: Chromium, Nickel, Copper, Lead, Zinc
- Sentence: 1 month incarceration, 12 months probation, $5,000 fine
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Cannon, with assistance from Crissy Pellegrin of the EPA’s Regional Counsel’s Office in Chicago, prosecuted the case. The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation. GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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