Tacoma, WA & Portland, OR – A plumbing and grease interceptor service, Metro Rooter and Plumbing Services (MRP), along with two of its senior officials, faced federal charges and penalties in 2006 for illegally dumping waste and falsifying records, according to court documents unsealed by GrimyTimes. The case, originating from a spill discovered near an elementary school in Washington state, revealed a pattern of environmental violations extending into Oregon.
The investigation began in January 2004, after hundreds of gallons of grease and fat were discovered discharged into a gully near an elementary school. Authorities traced the source back to a school district contract awarded to MRP for the cleaning and inspection of 14 grease interceptors during the 2003 Christmas break. While MRP invoiced the Tacoma School District for complete service at all locations, a subsequent audit revealed that four schools had not been properly cleaned. Furthermore, the company claimed to have pumped approximately 47,000 gallons of waste, a figure investigators found inconsistent with their operational practices.
GrimyTimes has learned that MRP allegedly engaged in a practice known within the industry as “stacking,” where grease from multiple interceptors is combined within a single tank before disposal. This method, while potentially cost-saving, allows companies to bypass proper disposal procedures and illegally discharge waste directly into the sewer system. Investigators found evidence that MRP employees routinely used this tactic, and that senior management, including Hardman and Evett, were aware of and actively concealed these violations through falsified documentation.
Legal Ramifications
On October 4, 2005, MRP was charged with one count of violating the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1311(a) – effluent limitations and 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) – knowingly violates). Hardman, a senior official, was charged with knowingly violating the CWA (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A)), while Evett, another senior official, faced charges of negligently violating the same Act (33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A)). All three defendants entered guilty pleas on November 7, 2005.
The sentencing, handed down on March 13, 2006, saw MRP placed on 60 months of probation and ordered to pay a $400 special assessment fee, alongside a federal fine of $37,500. Hardman received 24 months of probation and was fined $2,000, plus a $100 special assessment. Evett was similarly sentenced to 24 months probation, a $4,000 fine, and a $25 special assessment. While the penalties represent a degree of accountability, environmental advocates have long argued that fines of this nature are often insufficient to deter future violations by large corporations.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Metro Rooter and Plumbing Services (MRP), Hardman, Evett
- Location: Washington & Oregon
- Year: 2006
- Crime: Illegal dumping of grease waste into waterways and falsification of records
- Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1311(a), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A)
- Waste Amount: Estimated 400-1,000 gallons of grease illegally dumped
- Penalty (MRP): 60 months probation, $37,500 fine, $400 assessment
- Penalty (Hardman): 24 months probation, $2,000 fine, $100 assessment
- Penalty (Evett): 24 months probation, $4,000 fine, $25 assessment
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and investigate potential ongoing environmental violations committed by similar businesses.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
Related Federal Cases
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime