A former manager of wastewater facilities for the city of Hays has been charged with violating the Clean Water Act, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.Charles L. Blair, 57, Hays, is charged with four counts of making false statements about nitrogen levels in the effluent for the City of Hays.In three counts, Blair is alleged to have made false statements in Discharge Monitoring Reports. The reports significantly understated the amount of ammonia nitrogen in the city’s effluent.

In another count, Blair is alleged to have falsely stated to agents of the Environmental Protection Agency that he had provided accurate reports to EPA. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in February, March and July 2012 in Hays.

 

If convicted, Blair faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $10,000 on each of the first three counts and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the fourth count.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.

The Clean Water Act regulates the discharge of pollutants from point sources to waters of the United States. More information on the law is available at:  http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act

An earlier version of this story contained an inaccurate date from the U.S. Attorney’s office.