PITTSBURGH, PA – A New Jersey-based mobile truck washing company has been sentenced to pay $500,000 in restitution, fines, and community service after admitting to illegally discharging wastewater into waterways feeding the Monongahela River. Professional Mobile Cleaning, Inc. (PMC) pleaded guilty in November 2012 to violating federal environmental regulations, a case brought forth by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania and investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
According to court documents, PMC held a contract with the U.S. Postal Service to wash commercial vehicles at various locations across Western Pennsylvania between June 20, 2007, and June 20, 2010. The contract stipulated that PMC was responsible for the complete isolation, collection, storage, and proper disposal of all wash water. However, the company systematically failed to prevent the discharge of this wastewater, allowing it to flow into unnamed tributaries that ultimately connected to the Monongahela River.
The illegal discharge contained soaps and solvents used in the vehicle washing process. These substances, when released into waterways, can significantly degrade water quality and damage sensitive creek habitats, according to David G. McLeod, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Pennsylvania. The EPA investigation revealed a pattern of negligence in PMC’s waste management practices, directly contributing to the pollution of a vital regional waterway.
Legal Ramifications & Penalties
PMC was found to have violated the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act (33 U.S.C. 411) and other unspecified federal statutes, including 33 U.S.C. 407 (The Refuse Act). The company’s sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Terrence F. McVerry, included $300,000 in restitution to the U.S. Postal Service to cover damages and cleanup costs. A $9,000 criminal fine was also levied.
Beyond direct financial penalties, PMC was ordered to pay $191,000 to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) as a community service contribution. This sum will be dedicated to a restricted revenue account within the PFBC Fish Fund, specifically earmarked for projects aimed at addressing water quality issues, such as elevated levels of total dissolved solids in the Monongahela River. The PFBC will oversee projects designed to mitigate the environmental damage caused by PMC’s actions.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Professional Mobile Cleaning, Inc.
- Crime: Illegal discharge of wastewater into tributaries of the Monongahela River.
- Location: Western Pennsylvania
- Dates of Violation: June 20, 2007 – June 20, 2010
- Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 411, 33 U.S.C. 407
- Penalty: $500,000 total – $300,000 restitution to USPS, $9,000 fine, $191,000 to PA Fish & Boat Commission
- Investigating Agencies: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), United States Postal Inspection Service
U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton praised the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the EPA in bringing PMC to justice. The case serves as a stark reminder that environmental crimes will be aggressively prosecuted, and those who prioritize profit over environmental protection will be held accountable for their actions. Assistant United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
Related Federal Cases
- Professional Mobile Cleaning, Inc., Environmental Crime, PA 2013 · New York
- McWane, Inc., Water Pollution, AL 2006 · Nebraska
- Sandoz Inc, Antitrust Crimes, New Jersey 2013 · New York
- Efstratios Malsiniotis, Maritime Pollution Fraud, New Jersey 2006 · New York
- Douglas Brothers, Inc., Asbestos Violation, NY 2005 · New York
