American Fork, UT – A former corporate officer has been sentenced for knowingly polluting the city’s sewer system, causing significant damage and disruption to wastewater treatment facilities. Slade E. Barnett, Jr., 48, of Camano Island, Washington, was sentenced on January 22, 2014, following a guilty plea entered November 1, 2013, in U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.
Barnett, the principal agent for Denali Industries, LLC, located in American Fork’s Lakeside Planned Industrial Park, admitted to failing to prevent the illegal discharge of pollutants – including waste vegetable oil and tallow – into the sewer system on multiple occasions in March and June of 2008. Despite knowing the potential for damage, Barnett took no action to stop employees from introducing these substances, ultimately leading to failures in the municipal sewer infrastructure.
Court documents detail how Denali Industries’ trench drain system connected to a grease trap and subsequently, the city of American Fork’s sewer line. This line fed into the Timpanogos Special Services District’s publicly owned treatment works. The illicit discharges caused lift station pumps to fail on March 24th and June 4th, 2008, requiring costly replacements. Further, a 300-foot section of sewer pipe became clogged around June 25th, necessitating evacuation and full replacement, disrupting service for local residents and businesses.
Legal Ramifications
Barnett was charged with violating 33 U.S.C. 1319 (c)(2)(B) of the Clean Water Act, which prohibits knowingly introducing pollutants into waterways or sewer systems that could cause property damage. The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on July 11, 2012, alleged Barnett’s negligence as a responsible corporate officer. He received 48 months of probation and was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to cover the costs associated with repairing the damaged sewer infrastructure.
Federal Response
U.S. Attorney David B. Barlow emphasized the seriousness of the offense, stating, “This is not a case about somebody putting a little bacon grease down the sink at their home. This case is about a business introducing enough waste vegetable oil and tallow into the sewer system to cause parts of it to fail…”. Jeffrey Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of the EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Utah, added that the plea “sends a clear message to other potential violators that companies and their senior executives that fail to dispose of their wastes legally…will be held responsible for their crimes.”
Key Facts
- Defendant: Slade E. Barnett, Jr.
- Company: Denali Industries, LLC
- Location: American Fork, Utah
- Crime: Illegal discharge of pollutants into the sewer system
- Statute Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319 (c)(2)(B) – Clean Water Act
- Date of Plea: November 1, 2013
- Sentence: 48 months probation, $15,000 restitution
- Damages: Failure of lift station pumps, 300ft of clogged sewer pipe
The case underscores the EPA’s commitment to enforcing the Clean Water Act and holding individuals accountable for environmental crimes that jeopardize public health and infrastructure. The investigation highlights the importance of proper waste disposal practices for businesses and the potential consequences of neglecting environmental regulations.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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