West Valley City, UT – A licensed pesticide applicator has been sentenced following a 2014 incident where he illegally discharged harmful chemicals into a storm drain system, ultimately impacting waterways connected to the Great Salt Lake. Tyson Fred Williams, 31, pled guilty to violating state environmental regulations and received a probationary sentence.
On August 29, 2014, a photograph surfaced depicting an individual, later identified as Williams, discharging a bright green liquid from a Senske Services truck into a gutter in West Valley City. Authorities estimate approximately 100 gallons of the substance traveled over 1,420 feet through the gutter system before entering a storm drain. Darin T. Burke, Storm Water Supervisor for West Valley City, confirmed the drain leads directly into the Ritter Canal, a Class 2B protected water source that feeds into the Great Salt Lake.
Subsequent analysis by Chemtech-Ford Laboratories revealed the discharged liquid contained a complex mixture of chemicals, including Nitrate, Phosphate, and several phenols and naphthalene compounds. The analysis, reported by Salt Lake County Health Department’s Emergency Response Coordinator Kevin Okleberry, showed a particularly alarming concentration of phosphorous – 4.0 milligrams per liter. This level is approximately 80 times higher than the 0.05 mg/l limit stipulated by the Utah Water Quality Act, a clear violation of state standards designed to protect vital water resources. The discharge also left a visible rust-colored stain along the gutter, attributed to iron content within the chemical mixture.
Williams, employed by Senske Services at the time, admitted to law enforcement that he was the person in the photograph. He claimed the discharge occurred while attempting to clear a clogged filter on the pesticide application equipment. However, the sheer volume of liquid released and the documented chemical concentrations raised concerns about negligence and disregard for environmental regulations. Senske Services, while not directly charged in this case, has a history of providing lawn care, tree care, pest control and weed control services throughout the Salt Lake City area, raising questions about company oversight and training procedures.
Legal Ramifications
On January 23, 2015, Williams was formally charged with violating State Environmental Regulations. Following a plea of guilty on April 28, 2015, he was sentenced to 24 months of probation and ordered to pay a $2,500 fine to the state. While the penalty reflects a conviction, environmental advocates argue that the sentence may be insufficient given the potential long-term ecological impact of the chemical discharge on the delicate ecosystem of the Great Salt Lake.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Tyson Fred Williams
- Location: West Valley City, Utah
- Date of Incident: August 29, 2014
- Substance Discharged: Herbicide mixture containing Nitrate, Phosphate, phenols, and naphthalene compounds.
- Laws Violated: Utah Water Quality Act and related State Environmental Regulations regarding pollutant discharge.
- Penalty: 24 months probation and $2,500 fine.
- Impact: Contamination of Ritter Canal, a protected water source feeding the Great Salt Lake. Phosphorous levels were 80x the legal limit.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and investigate potential systemic issues within the pesticide application industry regarding environmental compliance and the protection of Utah’s waterways.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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