Tribar Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer in Southeast Michigan, was sentenced for violating the Clean Water Act. The company must pay a $200,000 criminal fine and $20,000 in restitution. Additionally, Tribar is required to serve five years of probation and implement an environmental management system and compliance plan within the initial six months of probation. The penalties follow Tribar's guilty plea to a misdemeanor for discharging insufficiently treated wastewater, which was announced by Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck.
The events occurred at Tribar's Plant 5, a chrome plating facility in Wixom, Michigan. In the summer of 2022, the plant held an Industrial Pretreatment Program Permit to discharge treated wastewater into the Wixom sanitary sewer system. However, on July 23, 2022, approximately 15,000 gallons of untreated wastewater with high levels of hexavalent chromium accumulated. The wastewater was not adequately treated by July 29, 2022, when an employee discharged about 10,000 gallons of it from a holding tank into the plant's wastewater treatment system. This discharge went unreported until August 1, 2022, and bypassed safety alarms.
“Tribar’s failure to adequately train and supervise its employees jeopardized the safety and quality of local water resources. This sentence recognizes the importance of strict adherence to regulatory standards and best practices intended to protect human health and the environment. Together with our partners, we will continue to protect environmental resources in the Eastern District of Michigan,” stated Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck.
Special Agent in Charge Allison Landsman of the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division commented, “Tribar illegally discharged industrial wastewater, posing a risk to downstream waterways. The successful and cooperative effort by EPA, federal and state partners resulted in today’s sentencing, holding Tribar responsible for violating federal environmental law.”
The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Section, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service.