Clean Water Act – Shreveport, LA
On February 28, 2012, Cody Tuma pled guilty to one misdemeanor count of discharges to the Red River in violation of the CWA. Cody Tuma, along with his father, John Emerson Tuma, was indicted on February 24, 2011. The five count indictment included charges of conspiracy and obstructing an USEPA inspection and three CWA counts for the alleged illegal dumping of waste water while both Tumas worked at ARKLA Disposal Services Inc. The company, located at The Port of Caddo-Bossier, operated as a treatment facility for wastewater related to oil and gas exploration and production.
From the factual basis for the plea agreement, Cody Tuma began working at the Arkla facility as a plant operator in 2005. His duties included cleaning up around the facility and off-loading industrial wastewater from tanker trucks at the facility. During his employment, his father, John Tuma instructed Cody Tuma “to open a valve and turn on a pump in order to lower the water level in certain on-site storage tanks to allow for additional water to be received at the facility.” Cody Tuma later learned that the discharges went to the Red River. Cody Tuma faces up to a year in prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000.00. Sentencing will take place June 20, 2012.
Cody Tuma’s father, John Tuma, is set to go to trial on March 12, 2012. Assuming the trial goes forward, this blog will be providing trial coverage.
You can also read a news account of the plea at
http://shreveporttimes.com/article/20120229/NEWS03/202290330/Man-pleads-guilty-illegal-dumping
More later.
As always, feel free to contact me at walter.james@jamespllc.com
WDJiii