Chamness Technology, Inc. Sentenced For Discharge Of Pollutant

DES MOINES, IA B Chamness Technology, Inc. (CTI) was sentenced today to pay a $100,000 fine for the discharge of a pollutant announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States Magistrate Judge Ross A. Walters also sentenced CTI to serve a term of two years supervised probation, which includes conditions that CTI perform community service and develop a compliance and ethic program. The Court also imposed a $125 crime victim fund assessment.

On November 1, 2010, the Iowa Division of Natural Resources responded to a complaint of a discharge in the Palestine Creek in Wapello County. An investigation revealed that leachate water and storm water runoff had been discharged from an umbilical hose at CTI’s compost facility located outside Eddyville, Iowa. A CTI employee caused the discharge by failing to attach the umbilical hose and ensure the umbilical hose was connected to a spray irrigator at the facility. The leachate water and storm water runoff entered the Palestine Creek and flowed to the Des Moines River. The discharge was not permitted and the employee acted within the scope of employment and intended at least in part to benefit CTI through the employee’s actions.

The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Iowa Division of Natural Resources, and was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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