Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Monday, October 7, 2024 78° Today's Paper


Top News

Waimanalo Gulch landfill execs plead not guilty in EPA case

STAR-ADVERTISER
Waste including blood vials

A city contractor and two of its top officials entered not guilty pleas in U.S. District Court Tuesday to charges linked to the discharge of hundreds of millions of gallons of contaminated storm-water from the city’s Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill into the waters near Ko Olina Resort.

A July 22 trial date was scheduled for Waste Management of Hawaii and its general manager and vice president, Joseph Whelan, and environmental protection manager, Justin Lottig, who were named in a 13-count federal indictment in connection with the January 2011 contaminated storm-water discharge.

The charges include knowingly committing violations of the U.S. Clean Water Act and then conspiring and making false statements to the state Health Department.

If convicted, the company faces a maximum criminal fine of $500,000 for each count and Whelan and Lottig could face federal prison terms.

Both are still at their jobs at the facility.

Comments are closed.