Admits To Dumping Industrial Discharge Into Farmington
River
Aerospace manufacturer Hamilton
Sundstrand pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of violating the
Federal Clean Water Act, admitting to dumping industrial discharge
into the Farmington River from its Windsor Locks, CT, plant.
Business Week reports Hamilton Sundstrand offered to settle the
case for $12 million. A federal judge will decide whether to accept
the plea agreement and impose the sanctions on April 27. The
company designs and manufactures environmental control, life
support and other systems for a variety of space applications,
including the space shuttle orbiters and the International Space
Station.
In a binding plea agreement filed with the US District Court,
Hamilton Sundstrand agreed to be placed on probation for five years
and to pay a fine in the amount of $1 million. Other penalties,
contributions to environmental programs and facility upgrades
increase the company's payout to about $12 million.
Federal prosecutors assert the company exceeded government-set
levels for discharge of hexavalent chromium between 2001 and 2003
and also altered documents to conceal the violations.
Hamilton Sundstrand was also accused of knowingly dumping tens
of thousands of gallons of wastewater contaminated with copper into
the Farmington River in September 2003.
Gina McCarthy, commissioner of the state Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP), said there are no long-term impacts
on the environment or drinking water supplies from the discharges
of the chromium and copper, both toxic substances used in metal
finishing work.
US Attorney Kevin O'Connor called the $12 million in fines and
contributions one of the largest settlements of a pollution case
ever in Connecticut. He declined to say whether any company
employees will be charged, but noted the investigation is
continuing.
"I think what today's convictions demonstrate is that state DEP,
the federal EPA, and the US attorney's office believe that this
type of conduct is downright criminal and we will continue to
prosecute it aggressively," O'Connor said.
Hamilton Sundstrand which makes space suits and aircraft
operating systems, said that it is now in full compliance with
environmental laws.
"Hamilton Sundstrand is committed to environmental leadership
that goes beyond mere compliance," the company said. "Clearly we
did not live up to our standards in this instance. We regret this
failure and will take all necessary steps so such events never
happen again."
At its headquarters in Windsor Locks, Hamilton Sundstrand
manufactures aircraft, spacecraft and marine control systems and
components, and in the process generates various metal finishing
and parts-testing wastewaters that contain toxic pollutants,
including chromium and copper.
In addition to the $1 million fine, Hamilton Sundstrand also
agreed to other measures, including contributing $500,000 to the
Connecticut Statewide Supplemental Environment Programs (SEP)
Account to fund ecosystem management projects in the Farmington
River Basin. The aerospace company will make a separate $2 million
contribution to the Connecticut Statewide SEP Account, to be used
to address the water quality impacts caused by farmland application
of surplus manure from dairy farms.
Hamilton Sundstrand also agreed to reduce its emissions of
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur
dioxide by installing and operating a 5.4 megawatt modern gas
turbine heat and power facility by July 1, 2011.
In all, the environmental upgrades and improvements are expected
to cost Hamilton Sundstrand approximately $5,600,000. If the costs
come in lower, Hamilton Sundstrand has agreed to pay the difference
to the Connecticut Statewide SEP Account.
Hamilton Sundstrand has also agreed to submit regular progress
reports to the Government and CT DEP and to institute a strict
environmental compliance and training program. These include a
regular certification by the president of Hamilton Sundstrand that
the company is in compliance with the requirements of the Clean
Water Act.
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