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Crime Pays: $100 million Settlement in Sewage Pollution Scandal
In a shocking turn of events, the Sanitary District of Highland and the Town of Griffith have agreed to spend $100 million to improve their sewer systems, eliminating discharges of raw sewage into the Little Calumet River.
The two consent decrees, signed in [current year], would resolve the violations alleged in the underlying complaint filed by the United States and the state of Indiana. The complaint alleges that Highland’s sanitary sewage collection system overflowed on 257 days since 2012, resulting in discharges of untreated sewage into the Little Calumet River or a tributary to the river. The complaint also alleges that Griffith discharged sewage into a wetland adjacent to the Little Calumet River on 16 days since 2013.
According to the complaint, both Highland and Griffith failed to comply with previous orders by EPA to stop these illegal discharges. The defendants were joined in the same cause of action because the claims against Highland and Griffith are similar in nature and both communities rely on the Sanitary District of Hammond to treat all of their wastewater.
Highland will pay a civil penalty of $175,000, while Griffith will pay a civil penalty of $33,000. The two towns will also implement plans to improve operations and maintenance of their sewer system and ability to address and respond to any unforeseen sanitary sewer overflows in the future.
The implementation of these consent decrees will prevent hundreds of thousands of gallons of raw sewage carrying harmful pollutants, such as E. coli, from being discharged to the Little Calumet River. These reductions in pollutants will improve water quality in the Little Calumet River.
The proposed agreements are subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval after publication in the Federal Register.
Defendant: Sanitary District of Highland and Town of Griffith
Criminal Charges: Violation of Clean Water Act
City and State: Highland and Griffith, Indiana
Exact Date: [current year]
Sentence or Outcome: $100 million settlement, $175,000 fine for Highland, $33,000 fine for Griffith
Dollar Amounts: $100 million, $175,000, $33,000
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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