Dec 6, 2012 2 min read

A New Jersey-based mobile truck washing business has pleaded guilty in federal court in Pittsburgh of violating The Refuse Act by failing to prevent wastewater from entering several tributaries that feed the Monongahela River.

Professional Mobile Cleaning, Inc. (PMC) of Fairfield, was ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution, fines and community service by U.S. District Judge Terrence F. McVerry.

According to information presented to the court, PMC worked via contract with the U.S. Postal Service to wash commercial vehicles in Western Pennsylvania and to isolate, collect, store and eliminate all wash water involved in the cleaning process.

From June 20, 2007 to June 20, 2010, PMC failed to prevent discharge of and to reclaim wastewater effluent resulting from these vehicle washing services. The wastewater entered into several tributaries that fed the Monongahela River.

Under a plea agreement, PMC agreed to pay $300,000 in restitution to the U.S. Postal Service and a $9,000 criminal fine. PMC is also required to pay $191,000 to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) for a community service project to address water quality issues such as total dissolved solids in the Monongahela River. This payment will be deposited into a restricted revenue account within the PFBC Fish Fund.

“Water pollution enforcement has always been a high priority for our agency,” said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. “We will continue to work with other state and federal agencies to ensure that our waters and aquatic resources remain protected consistent with our laws and regulations.”

He added, “Taking advantage of the Monongahela River to illegally dispose of untreated wastewater will not be tolerated and we appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in investigating and prosecuting this case.”

The PFBC has not yet developed the details of the project on the Monongahela River.