Search

New Jersey Company Sentenced for Criminal Clean Water Act Violations

Posted on 3/6/2025 by Lion Technology Inc.

In January 2025, a Kearny, NJ-based company with offices in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York plead guilty to Clean Water Act violations that caused the death of more than 150 fish. This week, the company was sentenced to three years of Federal probation with environmental conditions and must pay $1,000,000 in federal and state penalties.

The New Jersey company provides sewer, sediment, water, and other special services, and had entered a contract with the Town of Cheshire, CT to repair an 11-foot culvert pipe underneath a road. The project required the work to be done in such a way that prevents uncured geopolymer mortar from leaking into a nearby waterway.

Clean Water Act Violations

From July 16 to July 18, 2019, the company performed the work in direct contradiction with the contract’s requirements, leading to uncured geopolymer mortar seeping into the brook. On July 18, a resident with property adjacent to the brook saw dead fish in discolored, oily water, and smelled an odor like lighter fluid.
 

"The investigation revealed that the company was aware that its environmental controls were deficient, but did not remediate these deficiencies during the project. Although the company attempted to blame the pollutant release and fish kill on a single employee, the investigation showed that he had been inadequately trained, directed to complete the job in an unrealistic timeframe, and was never informed that the uncured geopolymer mortar was hazardous to the environment."

US Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut
The investigation also revealed that the company:
  • Lacked a meaningful and comprehensive environmental training program for its employees, particularly with respect to the Clean Water Act (CWA), even though its core business is repairing and rehabilitating infrastructure that interfaces with public waterways.
  • Incentivized site supervisors and executives to push their work crews to perform projects quickly and maximize the number of jobs completed.
  • At the time of the violations, was operating under a Code of Conduct as part of a 2014 settlement with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office to resolve civil allegations involving environmental pollution.

Justice.gov links:
New Jersey Company Admits Clean Water Act Violations, Causing Fish Kill in Cheshire
New Jersey Company Sentenced for Clean Water Act Violations that Caused Fish Kill in Cheshire, Will Pay $1 Million

Clean Water Act and Complete EPA Regulations Training

Cases like these underscore the importance of a comprehensive understanding of the environmental regulations that affect your work.

Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations

This online course guides environmental professionals through critical legal responsibilities under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), and the steps to achieve and maintain compliance.

Available as an online course.

Complete Environmental Regulations

This course guides EHS professionals through a comprehensive overview of the major air, water, and chemical programs implemented by US EPA (40 CFR). New and experienced environmental professionals who complete this course learn the essential elements of major EPA programs, keys to applicability, critical requirements, and how to identify the regulatory mandates that affect your operations. Includes five other Lion courses, including the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations online course.

Available as an online course or webinar.

Tags: Clean Water Act, EPA Enforcement

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Lion provided an excellent introduction to environmental regulations, making the transition to a new career as an EHS specialist less daunting of a task. Drinking from a fire hose when the flow of water is lessened, is much more enjoyable!

Stephanie Weathers

SHE Specialist

The online course was well thought out and organized, with good interaction between the student and the course.

Larry Ybarra

Material Release Agent

These are the best classes I attend each year. I always take something away and implement improvements at my sites.

Kim Racine

EH&S Manager

The instructor did an excellent job presenting a very dry subject; keeping everyone interested and making it enjoyable.

Marc Bugg

Hazardous Waste Professional

The instructor's energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge of the subject make the class a great learning experience!

Brian Martinez

Warehouse Operator

The instructor was very knowledgeable and provided pertinent information above and beyond the questions that were asked.

Johnny Barton

Logistics Coordinator

Lion Technology workshops are amazing!! You always learn so much, and the instructors are fantastic.

Dorothy Rurak

Environmental Specialist

The instructor was very very informative, helpful, understandable and pleasant. This course answered many questions I had, being new to this industry.

Frances Mona

Shipping Manager

I can't say enough how pleased I was with this course! Everything finally makes sense.

Kim Graham

Lab Manager

Well designed and thorough program. Excellent summary of requirements with references. Inclusion of regulations in hard copy form, as well as full electronic with state pertinent regulations included is a great bonus!

Oscar Fisher

EHS Manager

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

This guide will help you identify 25 of the most -cited errors in RCRA training, recordkeeping, hazardous waste ID, container management, universal waste, and laboratories.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.