Lisa Ann Rowland, Forgery, Utah 2015

Salt Lake City, UT – Lisa Ann Rowland, daughter of the owner of Unitech, LC, pled guilty in August 2015 to charges of unlawful discharge of pollutants and forgery stemming from a falsified wastewater discharge report. The case, investigated by state environmental authorities, revealed a deliberate attempt to mislead regulators regarding industrial wastewater released by the air handling unit manufacturer.

The Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility (POTW), which handles wastewater treatment for the Salt Lake City area, issued a permit to Unitech on February 19, 2014, allowing the company to discharge industrial wastewater. A key condition of the permit required Unitech to conduct regular sampling of its discharge and submit Self-Monitoring Reports (SMRs) with analytical data every six months. These reports are crucial for ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and protecting the POTW’s infrastructure.

On March 17, 2014, Central Valley received an SMR from Unitech that claimed analytical testing had been performed by American West Analytical Laboratories (AWAL). However, investigators quickly discovered a discrepancy. AWAL confirmed they *had not* received any samples from Unitech and had not conducted any of the analysis listed on the report. This prompted a further investigation into Unitech’s compliance procedures.

Rowland ultimately admitted to authorities that she had fabricated the data. She confessed to forgetting to collect the necessary wastewater samples and, instead of reporting the lack of data, she altered existing AWAL documentation. Using white-out and photocopying, Rowland created a falsified report and submitted it to Central Valley, attempting to conceal Unitech’s non-compliance. The scheme was uncovered through routine verification procedures by the POTW.

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Legal Ramifications

Rowland was formally charged on October 6, 2014, with unlawful discharge of pollutants and forgery. After pleading guilty on August 21, 2015, she was sentenced to 12 months of probation, a $4,625 state fine, and ordered to pay $1,656 in restitution. Unitech, LC, as a corporate entity, also faced repercussions. The company was sentenced to 12 months of probation, a significantly larger $16,333 state fine, and also ordered to pay $1,656 in restitution. The charges stemmed from violations of state environmental regulations related to wastewater discharge and falsification of official documents.

Key Facts

Defendant: Lisa Ann Rowland & Unitech, LC
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Year of Offense: 2014
Charges: Unlawful Discharge of Pollutants & Forgery
Falsified Documents: Self-Monitoring Reports submitted to Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility
Penalties: Rowland – 12 months probation, $4,625 fine, $1,656 restitution. Unitech – 12 months probation, $16,333 fine, $1,656 restitution.

This case underscores the importance of accurate self-reporting by industrial facilities and the rigorous oversight conducted by POTWs to protect water quality. Environmental authorities continue to emphasize that intentional misrepresentation of data carries serious legal and financial consequences.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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