Crete Pet Food Industry Supplier Fined $100,000 for Clean Water Act Violation

United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Crete Core Ingredients L.L.C. on September 26, 2019, to pay a fine in the amount of $100,000 following the company’s misdemeanor conviction for violating the federal Clean Water Act.  Crete Core Ingredients., a Crete, Nebraska-based company, specializes in processing animal materials and byproducts for the pet food industry.

Investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division determined that on June 19, 2013, Crete Core Ingredients was issued a wastewater discharge permit by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.  The permit authorized the discharge of wastewater from the Crete Core Ingredients facility to the City of Crete’s publicly owned water treatment facility.  The permit set forth limits on the amount of certain pollutants that were allowed to enter the water treatment facility.  The permit further provided that in the event of a permit violation, Crete Core Ingredients was subject to penalties and sanctions as provided by the federal Clean Water Act.  

On or about August 5, 2014, Crete Core Ingredients exceeded its wastewater discharge permit, thus violating the federal Clean Water Act.  On August 5, 2014, wastewater flow data from Crete Core Ingredients to the City of Crete’s publicly owned water treatment facility showed a discharge of certain pollutants over twice the daily maximum that was permitted under the permit issued.

This case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division.