Santa Paula, CA – In 2020, Mark Avila, Facility Manager for the Santa Clara Waste Water Company (SCWWC), received a suspended jail sentence and probation for his role in a 2014 hazardous waste incident that triggered evacuations, hospitalizations, and significant damage to emergency responder equipment. The case, stemming from a catastrophic explosion at the SCWWC facility, highlights a pattern of deliberate regulatory circumvention and disregard for public safety.
On October 11, 2019, Marlene Faltemier, SCWWC’s Human Resources Manager, also received a suspended jail sentence and was placed on five years of formal probation, along with a hefty $2,647,621.35 in victim restitution. Avila and Operations Manager Gus Baker were sentenced on November 22, 2019, each receiving 36 months probation, two months of suspended jail time, and a $150 fine. All three individuals pleaded guilty to charges related to the incident, revealing a systematic effort to conceal the true extent of hazardous materials stored at the SCWWC facility.
The crisis unfolded when a vacuum cargo tank trailer containing a cocktail of hazardous waste exploded, unleashing over 1,000 gallons of chemicals and igniting a series of subsequent explosions. A plume of toxic smoke descended upon the area, prompting mandatory evacuations within a one-mile radius of SCWWC and shelter-in-place orders for residents within three miles. The local elementary school was forced to close, and Highway 126 was shut down. First responders, initially misled into believing the incident involved only sewage, entered the facility without proper protective gear. Three Santa Paula firefighters were injured and subsequently placed on disability leave, and their fire engine was completely destroyed.
Investigations revealed that SCWWC routinely exceeded permitted hazardous material storage limits. Prior to scheduled inspections, company officials engaged in a practice of transferring excess materials to an unsecured offsite truck lot. On the day of the explosion, a Defense Logistics Agency inspection was imminent, and internal “clean-up” efforts were underway. The volatile mixture that detonated had been siphoned from approximately 20 unlabeled chemical totes into the ill-fated vacuum trailer. Furthermore, SCWWC illegally disposed of hazardous waste through the City of Oxnard’s wastewater pipeline and via trailers destined for the Chiquita Canyon Landfill – neither of which were authorized for such materials.
The actions of Avila, Baker, and Faltemier constituted clear violations of state hazardous materials regulations, specifically charges of failing to warn of a serious concealed danger, impeding enforcement, and illegally storing and labeling hazardous materials. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of prioritizing profit over safety and environmental responsibility. The financial burden of the restitution order underscores the significant damage inflicted upon the community and the long-term costs associated with environmental contamination and emergency response.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Mark Avila, Gus Baker, Marlene Faltemier
- Location: Santa Paula, California
- Incident Date: 2014 (Sentencing in 2019-2020)
- Charges: Failing to warn of a serious concealed danger, impeding enforcement, illegally storing and labeling hazardous materials.
- Penalties: Suspended jail sentences (up to 2 years), probation (up to 5 years), fines ($150), and victim restitution ($2,647,621.35)
- Impact: Evacuations, hospitalizations, firefighter injuries, equipment damage, environmental contamination.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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