Whistle Blower Whose Tip to Yadkin Riverkeeper® Led to EPA Criminal Investigation, Speaks Publicly about Thomasville’s 15 million Gallon Sewage Spill
Posted: 10-14-2009 : THOMASVILLE, N.C.

Thomasville NC — Thomasville Plant Operator Scott Leonard contacted Yadkin Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks in August to report that Thomasville officials intentionally underreported a massive sewage spill that poured raw sewage into Hamby Creek for more than twenty days until it was allegedly first discovered by Thomasville officials on August 4th near Baptist Children’s Home Road.

Naujoks contacted EPA Criminal Investigations Division, Special Agent Kevin La Pointe. While the EPA criminal investigation is still pending, it prompted Thomasville officials to suddenly revise their sewage report indicating 15.93 million gallons of raw sewage entered Hamby Creek which is part of the Yadkin/Pee Dee River Basin. Thomasville Public Services Director Morgan Huffman initially reported a sewage spill of only 385,000 gallons to NC Division of Water Quality on Aug. 4 but amended the report Tuesday September 8th when EPA Criminal Investigations Division made an unannounced visit in early September to confiscate records, review plant data and interview plant personal.

Initially Leonard felt satisfied that Thomasville officials amended the report to reflect the city had in fact underreported the sewage spill by more than 15 million gallons. Superintendent Dean Lambith has since resigned for intentionally failing to report the sewage spill prior to August 4th. Town officials repeatedly claimed no one knew about the spill prior to August 4th. The NC Division of Water Quality has also levied a fine of $35,000, while additional penalties and possible arrests could result from the EPA investigation.

However Leonard grew increasingly frustrated by Thomasville city manger Kelly Craver’s response to the spill. Craver has repeatedly down played environmental impacts to High Rock Lake, indicating a smaller spill likely occurred. Thomasville hired consultants to review plant data in hopes of verifying a smaller sewage spill, possibly amending their report for a third time. Thomasville plans us the consultant’s reports to appeal the $35,000 penalty. Leonard feels officials in addition to Dean Lambith knew about the Thomasville Spill long before August 4th and wants city officials to be honest about what happened at the Hamby Creek Sewage Plant.

According to Leonard, Plant Superintendent Misty Conder allegedly spoke with Thomasville Lab Technician Vince Llenza about a 600,000 gallon per day drop in flow of raw sewage entering the plant back in July. “I believe Public Utilities Director Morgan Huffman and Plant Superintendent Misty Conder both knew raw sewage was flowing into Hamby Creek back in mid July” Leonard said. “The city has known for years their sewage lines were failing but chose to ignore the problem. Let’s all take polygraph test and see who is telling the truth.” Leonard is now willing to talk to media to set the record strait but many of the facts are pretty clear.

According to plant data, flow to the Hamby Creek sewage plant dropped on July 13th lasting through Aug. 4, when plant officials initially claimed to have first discovered the spill. The spill resulted from a collapsed manhole cover after heavy rainfall on July 13th, but according to Huffman no one at the plant knew there was a problem at that time, which has since turned out to be false. Superintendent Dean Lambith resigned when it was revealed he failed to report the sewage spill when he first became aware of the spill. Huffman used plant data from August 4th to initially determine 385,000 gallons entered Hamby Creek but it is unclear why plant officials did not look at the plant data prior to August 4th to determine a much larger sewage spill had occurred. The same plant data was used to determine a much larger spill of 15 million gallons occurred.

Dean Naujoks, Yadkin Riverkeeper felt “the city would look foolish amending their report for a third time” and would rather see the city focus it limited resources on addressing the real problem and taking responsibility for its actions. “If Thomasville officials do not trust their own Utilities Director after he thoroughly reviewed all the plant data with the EPA and confidently amended the report indicating a 15.93 million gallon sewage spill, it is time for Thomasville to get new leadership to run their failing sewage plant.” Naujoks said.

EPA officials conducted their investigation based on a report they received from Yadkin Riverkeeper, Dean Naujoks on August 28th. Naujoks received a tip from a Thomasville plant operator who contacted Yadkin Riverkeeper to report plant officials had intentionally underreported the spill totals to the media. NC Law requires sewage spills over 1000 gallons be reported to the media to alert the public about potential health risks. EPA refuses to comment on the details of the investigation, but falsifying data can lead to criminal prosecution.

Plant operator logs from July 16th and again on July 25th clearly indicate operators reported flow coming into the plant had dropped significantly from an average of 2 million gallons a day (MGD) down to 1.2 MGD. The plants flow meters and SCADA also showed a significant drop in flow entering the plant which could only mean a rupture in the cities ageing sewage lines had occurred. Naujoks’ report to EPA also indicated plant employees allegedly reported the spill shortly after it occurred on July 13th. Hamby Creek empties into Abbott’s Creek and eventually High Rock Lake one of the state’s largest recreational lakes and a drinking water supply for the town of Salisbury.

EPA estimates more than 850 billion gallons of sewage are released into American rivers, lakes and coastal waters every year. Sewage contains disease pathogens, bacteria, toxins, nutrients and oxygen-depleting compounds causing algae blooms, fish kills and dead zones. Sewage also contains antibiotics, hormones and other prescription drugs that are entering drinking-water supplies.

Thomasville, like many local governments, have struggled to keep pace with development and a growing population. Aging sewer lines and outdated sewage-treatment plants are unable to accommodate additional capacity and become overwhelmed every time it rains. Unfortunately, political leaders in Thomasville and many municipalities fail to adequately invest in sewage infrastructure while giving developers a free pass on paying the true cost for clean water. Huffman told Naujoks the town of Trinity was allegedly overwhelming Thomasville’s sewage collection system and was going to recommend to Thomasville officials to remove Trinity from the Thomasville sewage system.

About the Yadkin Riverkeeper®:
The Yadkin Riverkeeper’s mission is to respect, protect and improve the Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin through education, advocacy and action. It is aimed at creating a clean and healthy river that sustains life and is cherished by its people. To achieve this vision, it seeks to accomplish the following objectives: sustain a RIVERKEEPER® program, measurably improve water quality, reestablish native bio-diversity, preserve and enhance the forest canopy, bring legal action to enforce state and federal environmental laws, and teach and practice a “river ethic” of ecological respect to all ages. For more information, visit http://www.yadkinriverkeeper.org or call 336-293-8105.

About Dean Naujoks:
Dean Naujoks is the Yadkin Riverkeeper, employed by Yadkin Riverkeeper Inc. since the fall of 2008 to manage and implement a river advocacy program for the Yadkin Pee Dee River watershed in North Carolina that will keep it a healthy and vibrant river for residents and businesses in the long term. Yadkin Riverkeeper is a licensed member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, which connects and supports local Waterkeeper programs to provide a voice and champion clean water for waterways and their communities worldwide. A longtime water quality advocate, Naujoks became the first Upper Neuse Riverkeeper in 2001 at the nonprofit Neuse River Foundation. In 2002, Naujoks worked with whistleblowers to uncover more than 20 environmental and labor law violations at Raleigh’s sewage treatment plant—the largest discharger to the Neuse River. According to Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, “it was the Riverkeeper who alerted us to extensive problems which existed at our waste treatment plant, problems which had not been brought to our attention by then plant management.” Since 2003, Raleigh has invested more than $50 million in sewage plant upgrades and provided free drinking water to 32 families as a result of ground water contamination (over 1000 acres, the largest in the state) from the over application of sludge. A graduate of N.C. State, Naujoks created his own major in environmental policy and sustainable development. He also worked for the NC Wildlife Federation from 1991-1999. Naujoks has received River Networks’ 2009 National “River Hero” Award on behalf of his efforts.