Montco Company Dumped Wastewater Into Streams, Charges Allege

SOUDERTON, PA - A Telford man and his company have been charged with dumping illegal amounts of wastewater into streams in violation of the Clean Water Act.

MAB Environmental Services, a Souderton company, has been charged along with Matthew Brozena, 58, its owner, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.

Separate criminal informations have been filed charging James Wetzel, 63, of Harrisburg, PA, James Crafton, 61, of Upper Black Eddy, PA, and Stephen Fritz, 48, of in Harleysville, PA, for knowingly violating related environmental standards.

MAB was allegedly contracted to operate wastewater treatmeant plants for BC Natural Chicken and Buckingham Valley Nursing Center, and was allowed to dispose a certain amount of wastewater into nearby waters under a set of very specific conditions.

Wastewater could be disposed, for example, when it was proven by samples that certain toxins were not present.

Bozena allegedly directed his employees to discard test samples of the water which had toxins which the EPA would not have allowed to be released into local waters.

“The EPA and its regulatory partners are dedicated to safeguarding public health,” Jennifer Lynn, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Environmental Protection Agency’s criminal enforcement program in Pennsylvania, said in a press release. “In order to fulfill that mission, it is essential that governments receive accurate test samples and measurements. This case demonstrates that those who would knowingly put public health at risk can expect to face prosecution.”

Brozena faces “significant” jail time, while the others face lesser sentences and fines.