St. Joseph, MO – A St. Joseph soybean oil reclamation company and its former vice president have been sentenced for illegally dumping pollutants into the city’s wastewater treatment system, a case highlighting the ongoing federal crackdown on environmental crimes. Oak Mill, Inc., and Robert Arundale, 82, of San Diego, California, were each sentenced to five years of probation on June 3, 2011, following a guilty plea entered in November 2010. The company and its executive were also ordered to pay a combined $54,000 in fines and restitution.
The investigation, spearheaded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and supported by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the City of St. Joseph, revealed that Oak Mill consistently exceeded permitted levels of zinc and nickel in its wastewater discharge. The company reclaims soybean oil, utilizing acid to cleanse tanker trucks, a process that generated the contaminated effluent. Despite possessing a city-issued wastewater permit outlining acceptable discharge limits, Oak Mill repeatedly violated those standards.
According to court documents, on October 5, 2006, a discharge from Oak Mill contained 20.9 mg/l of zinc and 2.47 mg/l of nickel – levels significantly higher than the permitted limits of 3.00 mg/l for zinc and 0.99 mg/l for nickel. A second violation occurred on October 12, 2006, with readings of 19.6 mg/l for zinc and 2.94 mg/l for nickel. Arundale, as Vice President, admitted to knowing about the excessive discharges and failing to take corrective action, demonstrating negligence in upholding environmental regulations.
Legal Ramifications
Oak Mill, Inc. pled guilty to two counts of intentionally unlawful discharge of pollutants, a violation of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1317(d)). Arundale pleaded guilty to one count of negligently discharging pollutants into the wastewater system, also under the Clean Water Act. The initial agreement stipulated a $50,000 fine, with $5,000 paid upfront and the remainder to be paid in monthly installments over five years. In addition to the fine, the court ordered $4,000 in restitution to the City of St. Joseph to cover costs associated with the illegal discharges.
A Pattern of Non-Compliance?
While this case resulted in penalties, questions remain about the extent of Oak Mill’s environmental compliance over time. Sources close to the investigation suggest the violations weren’t isolated incidents, although the 2006 discharges triggered the federal indictment in December 2008. The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division played a crucial role in gathering evidence and building the case against the company and its executive, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to holding polluters accountable.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Oak Mill, Inc. and Robert Arundale
- Location: St. Joseph, Missouri
- Crime: Illegal discharge of pollutants (zinc and nickel) into the city’s wastewater treatment system
- Statute Violated: Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1317(d))
- Penalties: $50,000 fine for Oak Mill and Arundale, $4,000 restitution to the City of St. Joseph, five years probation for both
- Dates of Significance: October 2006 (discharges), December 2008 (indictment), November 2010 (guilty plea), June 2011 (sentencing)
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Pansing Brown prosecuted the case, underscoring the collaborative effort between federal and local agencies to protect Missouri’s waterways. The incident serves as a stark reminder that environmental regulations are not merely suggestions, but legally binding requirements with significant consequences for those who choose to ignore them.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
Related Federal Cases
- Oak Mill, Inc, Pollution, MO 2011 · Illinois
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- Pro Diesel Inc., Environmental Crime, Colorado 2022 · Kansas
- Robert L. Van Diver, Pollution, AR 1995 · Missouri
