A Nevada man has been sentenced to two years in prison for illegally discharging waste into a local wastewater treatment system, in violation of the Clean Water Act. Matthew Thurman, the general manager of Environmental Resources Inc. (ERP), doing business as Easy Rooter Plumbing, was also ordered to pay a $680,000 fine and serve one year of supervised release.
ERP, the company Thurman managed, was separately sentenced to three years of probation and a $680,000 fine. The charges stemmed from years of illegal discharges of grease waste and wastewater from food-service businesses into the wastewater systems of Reno and Sparks, Nevada.
Despite being warned by local regulators about the illegal discharges, Thurman and ERP continued the practice, leading to an investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Thurman misled federal agents during the probe, falsely blaming competitors for the illegal waste discharges. The discharges caused significant damage to the integrity of the local wastewater system, creating environmental risks and driving up maintenance costs, which were ultimately passed on to consumers.
“This case underscores the importance of holding individuals and corporations accountable when they knowingly harm our environment and attempt to obstruct justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Violations of the Clean Water Act are serious crimes, and today’s sentencing sends a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated.”
The illegal discharges not only exposed local communities to the risks of contaminated sewage but also required taxpayer-funded repairs to fix the damage caused by the defendants’ actions.
“Today’s significant sentencing demonstrates that EPA will continue to bring to justice environmental criminals,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann for the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
The case is a collaboration between local, state, and federal agencies in protecting America’s water systems. The investigation was led by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, with support from the City of Reno’s Utility Services Department and the City of Sparks’ Environmental Control Section.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada emphasized the case’s significance, stating, “Nevadans depend on our clean water system for everyday life. By knowingly illegally dumping waste into the treatment system, the defendants jeopardized the quality of life of our citizens in violation of the Clean Water Act.”
