Ontario, OR – Potato processing giant Ore-Ida Foods, Incorporated, has been slapped with a hefty fine and placed on probation following a multi-year investigation into Clean Water Act violations at its Ontario, Oregon facility. The case, which unfolded between 1991 and 1994, revealed a pattern of negligent discharge of pollutants and falsification of reports designed to conceal the company’s non-compliance with environmental regulations.
The initial probe focused on Richard Jordan, Ore-Ida’s environmental controls supervisor at the Ontario wastewater treatment plant. Jordan was initially indicted in November 1991 on eight counts, including tampering with monitoring devices and submitting false Discharge Monitoring Reports – a clear attempt to mislead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and cover up illegal discharges. He ultimately pled guilty in March 1992 to tampering with a monitoring device, receiving a sentence of 60 days house arrest, a $5,000 fine, five years probation, and 100 hours of community service.
However, Jordan’s guilty plea didn’t close the book on the investigation. A superseding indictment in June 1993 broadened the scope, implicating plant manager David Zeigler. Zeigler faced a barrage of charges – 23 counts of knowingly discharging pollutants in violation of permit requirements, 23 counts of negligent discharge, and multiple counts of providing false statements. He later pled guilty to negligent false reporting in July 1993, with all other charges dropped as part of a plea agreement, receiving 24 months probation and a $1,500 fine.
The EPA’s investigation ultimately led to a five-count information filed against Ore-Ida Foods itself in April 1994. The charges centered on negligent violations of the Clean Water Act. Facing mounting evidence, Ore-Ida Foods entered a guilty plea to all five counts in June 1994. The company was sentenced to 36 months probation and a staggering $1,000,000 fine. However, a significant portion of the fine—$750,000—was suspended, contingent on Ore-Ida’s investment in a comprehensive overhaul of the wastewater treatment plant, with a one-to-one credit applied for every dollar spent on the rebuild.
The case highlights the critical importance of accurate environmental reporting and the potential consequences for companies that prioritize profit over compliance. Sources close to the investigation suggest the falsified reports and tampered monitoring devices were an attempt to avoid costly upgrades to the aging wastewater treatment facility. The EPA’s successful prosecution sends a clear message that environmental crimes will not be tolerated, even from major corporate players.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Ore-Ida Foods, Incorporated
- State: Oregon
- Year: 1994
- Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1)(A), 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A), 18 U.S.C. 1001, 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(1) – Clean Water Act violations, falsification of reports.
- Penalties: Ore-Ida Foods was sentenced to 36 months probation and a $1,000,000 fine (with $750,000 suspended pending treatment plant upgrades).
- Individuals Involved: Richard Jordan (environmental controls supervisor) and David Zeigler (plant manager) also faced criminal charges and penalties.
- The case originated with concerns about the quality of wastewater discharged from Ore-Ida’s potato processing plant into local waterways.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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