UC Fuel Company Sentenced, Dumped 45K Gallons Of Waste Into Water

ELIZABETH, NJ — An Elizabeth biodiesel fuel company was sentenced for dumping more than 45,000 gallons of wastewater from its commercial production facility into the Arthur Kill, a narrow waterway that separates New Jersey from Staten Island, New York, U.S Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Fuel Bio One LLC was sentenced to pay a criminal fine of $100,000. They were also sentenced to probation for a period of five years, during which the company must: provide biannual reports to the court and the government documenting its waste generation, handling and disposal practices; develop, implement, and fund an employee training program to ensure that all employees are aware of proper waste handling and disposal practices and to ensure that all storage, treatment and disposal of wastewater complies with the Clean Water Act; and allow U.S. Environmental Protection Agency full access to all offices, warehouses and facilities owned or operated by the company.

Fuel Bio One LLC pleaded guilty June 5, 2018 to one count of violating the Clean Water Act, a statute that was enacted to prevent, reduce, and eliminate water pollution in the United States.

"Protecting the environment and our natural resources is one of the many ways this office works to keep New Jersey safe for everyone," Carpenito said. "The sentence imposed as a result of Fuel Bio One’s previous guilty plea ensures that the company will be punished for its past crimes, and the plea agreement puts in place a plan to ensure they don’t pollute our waterways in the future."

Fuel Bio One admitted to releasing 45,000 gallons of wastewater that included methanol, biodiesel and other contaminants, as a byproduct of its biodiesel fuel production at its Elizabeth plant on Sept. 6, 2013 and Nov. 9, 2013 into a storm water pit at the Elizabeth plant, causing the pump to operate and, as a result, wastewater to be discharged into the Arthur Kill, according to court documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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