Former Oklahoma Water Treatment Supervisor Pleads Guilty for Falsifying Drinking...

Former Oklahoma Water Treatment Supervisor Pleads Guilty for Falsifying
Drinking Water Safety Reports

WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Christopher Neil Gauntt, the
former supervisor of the Fort Gibson Water Treatment Plant in Fort Gibson,
Okla., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Muskogee, Okla., to
falsifying a monthly operating report that certified the safety of drinking
water from the facility, the Justice Department announced.

Gauntt pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with a felony
count of making a false statement. He admitted that on or about June 12, 2008,
he submitted a monthly operating report containing false data for drinking
water that is provided to residents of Fort Gibson as well as residents of
Muskogee Rural Water Districts 4 and 7, Cherokee Water drinking water systems,
and the water systems for Corral Creek Subdivision and Ozark Water Inc.

Under the federal Safe Water Drinking Act, which is administered and enforced
by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, as well as the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Fort Gibson water treatment plant
must provide drinking water that meets standards to ensure that the water is
safe for human consumption. Two of the standards that must be met include
turbidity and chlorine. If turbidity, the measure of clarity of drinking
water, or chlorine levels are not within levels required by the Safe Drinking
Water Act, there is a potential risk that the water could retain
microorganisms that carry waterborne diseases.

Gauntt admitted that he recorded levels in the monthly operating report
submitted to Oklahoma DEQ that indicated the turbidity and chlorine levels
were in compliance with required standards when he knew in fact they were not.
In August 2008, Fort Gibson had sent a notice concerning this to residents who
receive their drinking water from the Fort Gibson water treatment plant. Fort
Gibson did not receive any information that anyone experienced any ill effects
from the drinking water during that time period.

"All citizens should be confident that they are receiving drinking water that
is safe for consumption. Those who knowingly compromise the regulatory
protections of the Safe Drinking Water Act will be prosecuted," said John C.
Cruden, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's
Environment and Natural Resources Division. "The prosecution in this case
demonstrates that the government vigorously acts to ensure all of our citizens
have good drinking water and the Safe Drinking Water Act's requirements are
being complied with."

"Accurate information is essential for the federal government and the State of
Oklahoma to assure good drinking water for the public," said Warren Amburn,
Special Agent in Charge of EPA's criminal enforcement program in Dallas.
"Individuals who submit false reports or bogus data undermine those efforts
and they will be vigorously pursued."

"Falsifying information about the safety of the drinking water supply is
dangerous," Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson said. "Ensuring an
adequate supply of safe, clean water is an important public health issue. We
will continue to work with our partners at all levels of government to protect
the people of this state and the water they drink."

As a result of the felony conviction, Gauntt could be sentenced up to five
years in prison and fined up to $250,000.

The case was prosecuted by the Department of Justice Environmental Crimes
Section and was investigated by EPA's Criminal Investigation and the Oklahoma
Attorney General's Office. If there are any questions from the public
regarding the case, please contact the Department of Justice Environmental
Crimes Section at (202) 305-0321.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs, +1-202-514-2007, TDD,
+1-202-514-1888