City of Pineville Pleads Guilty to Illegal Discharge

ALEXANDRIA, LA—Stephanie A. Finley, United States Attorney, announced that the City of Pineville entered a plea of guilty today in federal court stemming from an illegal discharge from a pumping station that occurred in September 2008.

Following the heavy rainfall from Hurricane Gustav, the City of Pineville’s Huffman Creek Pumping Station illegally discharged hydraulic fluid over the levee and into Bayou Maria, which ultimately empties into the Red River. An investigation conducted by the Louisiana Environmental Crimes Task Force, comprised of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Criminal Investigation Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality - Criminal Investigation Division, and the Louisiana State Police found that the source of the discharge was equipment at the City of Pineville’s Huffman Creek Pumping Station, which was known by city personnel to be in disrepair and leaking hydraulic fluid.

The minimum fine for the illegal discharge from the pumping station is $2,500 per day of violation, with a maximum fine of $25,000 per day of violation. Sentencing is set for January 4, 2012.

“We have a responsibility to protect our environment and ensure the longevity of our community’s natural resources for future generations. The prosecution of this case is a demonstration of this office’s commitment to enforce the environmental laws of the United States,” says U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley.

“It’s unfortunate whenever there are violations of the environmental regulations,” said DEQ Secretary Peggy Hatch. “We at DEQ will continue to work with the federal, state, and local agencies that are striving for environmental protection and encourage all to abide by environmental laws.”

“The public sector has the same obligation to obey the law as does the private sector,” said Ivan Vikin, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Office of Criminal Enforcement in Dallas. “Today’s guilty plea shows how EPA is working with its federal and state law enforcement partners to successfully prosecute environmental crimes.”

“Everyone must be held accountable for compliance with our environmental laws, especially municipalities and government entities, who themselves are tasked with enforcing the laws of this state and this country. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to bring to justice those who would disregard our environmental laws,” said Special Agent-in-Charge, David W. Welker.