William Joseph Rutherford, Violating the Clean Water Act, Tennessee 2005

Caryville, TN – A Tennessee lab technician was sentenced to probation and fined for his role in a scheme to falsify wastewater testing reports, federal court records show. William Joseph Rutherford, of Standard Laboratories, Inc., pled guilty to a single count of violating the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 2005, stemming from a deliberate effort to mislead environmental regulators about the Caryville-Jacksboro Sewage Treatment Plant’s (STP) compliance with discharge permits.

The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a collaborative effort between Rutherford and Earl G. Wilson, an operator at the CJUC-operated STP. The CJUC held a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, requiring regular wastewater analysis. When the EPA requested participation in a quality assurance study in 2002, designed to verify the accuracy of testing procedures, the scheme began to unfold. Rather than submit legitimate results from Standard Labs or the CJUC’s in-house lab, Wilson contacted Rutherford to outsource the analysis to Appalachian State Analytical (ASA).

Rutherford then allegedly assisted Wilson in fabricating a report that falsely attributed the ASA-performed analyses to either Standard Labs or the CJUC itself. This deceptive report was presented to the CJUC director for signature and subsequent submission to regulatory authorities, effectively concealing potential violations of the plant’s discharge permit. The intent was to pass the quality assurance study without revealing inconsistencies or inaccuracies in the previously submitted data.

The EPA’s investigation uncovered the deception, leading to criminal charges against Rutherford on June 8, 2005. He was formally charged with making false statements under 33 U.S.C. § 1319(c)(4) of the Clean Water Act. The statute specifically prohibits knowingly making false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations in any document required under the CWA.

On July 6, 2005, Rutherford received a sentence of 24 months probation, a $100 special assessment fee, and a $250 federal fine. A subsequent sentencing on October 24, 2005, reinforced the original terms, adding a requirement for 150 hours of community service to be completed during his probationary period. The case highlights the EPA’s commitment to pursuing criminal enforcement against individuals who attempt to circumvent environmental regulations through fraudulent practices.

While Wilson was involved in the scheme, records do not indicate if he faced criminal charges in connection to this incident. The CJUC itself was not named as a defendant in the criminal case, however the incident likely triggered further scrutiny of their compliance program and internal controls. This case serves as a cautionary tale for wastewater treatment facilities and the laboratories they contract with, emphasizing the importance of accurate reporting and adherence to environmental regulations.

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Key Facts

Defendant: William Joseph Rutherford
Crime: False Statements under the Clean Water Act
State: Tennessee
Year: 2006 (charges filed 2005)
Statute Violated: 33 U.S.C. § 1319(c)(4)
Penalty: 24 months probation, 150 hours community service, $100 special assessment, $250 federal fine
Victim: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) & Public Trust
Co-conspirator: Earl G. Wilson, CJUC operator

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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