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CALIFORNIA ELECTROPLATER SENTENCED FOR ILLEGAL DISCHARGES
Release Date: 04/26/2001
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2001
CALIFORNIA ELECTROPLATER SENTENCED
FOR ILLEGAL DISCHARGES
Luke C. Hester 202-564-7818 / [email protected]
On April 23, Edward Fixen, who formerly operated an electroplating business in San Luis Obispo, Calif., was sentenced to 18 months in prison for violating the Clean Water Act (CWA). Fixen violated his electroplating facility’s CWA discharge permit by intentionally releasing higher than permitted levels of cyanide, nickel and corrosives from his shop into the San Luis Obispo sewer system which discharges into San Luis Creek and the Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, trial witnesses stated that Fixen attempted to conceal his illegal activity by trying to circumvent a monitoring device placed in the sewer by the city. Cyanide and nickel are highly toxic substances which can threaten the health of sewage treatment plant workers. Discharging unpermitted levels of cyanide, nickel and corrosives can also damage sewage treatment facilities and lead to the discharge of chemicals and improperly treated sewage into surface waters, creating a public exposure risk and harming fish and wildlife. The case was investigated by EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, the FBI, the City of San Luis Obispo Industrial Wastewater Division, the city and county attorney offices of San Louis Obispo, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Department of Toxic Substances Control and the Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo Regional Environmental Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.
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