Montgomery County man charged with allowing untreated sewage to be discharged into Perkiomen Creek

Criminal charges have been filed against a Montgomery County waste water treatment plant operator for allegedly allowing untreated sewage to be discharged into Perkiomen Creek in Montgomery County and for submitting falsified reports to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Corbett said that Michael Martin, 1451 Markley Road, Pennsburg, was the operator of the Green Lane Marlborough Joint Authority waste water 05-27-2010 Michael Martin ECStreatment plant, located at Gravel Road at Sumneytown Road, Green Lane.

“The water released from waste water treatment plants must meet state-regulated standards that were created to protect our residents, our communities and our environment,” Corbett said.

According to the investigation, Martin allegedly allowed untreated or partially treated sewage to be discharged into Perkiomen Creek periodically over the course of five years, from March 2004 through August 2009.

Corbett said that during the same time period, Martin also allegedly fabricated sampling data on the monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports that he submitted to DEP.

According to the investigation, laboratory test results for samples collected on various dates at the Green Lane Marlborough Joint Authority waste water treatment plant showed that the fecal coliform, total suspended solids and total residual chlorine levels exceeded the permitted limits.

The investigation revealed that on those same dates, the Discharge Monitoring Reports submitted to the DEP by Martin showed that the levels were within the permitted limits.

Martin is charged with one count each of tampering with public records and unlawful conduct, both third-degree felonies that carry maximum penalties of seven years in prison and $15,000 fines. He is also charged with one count each of unsworn falsification to authorities and unlawful conduct, both second-degree misdemeanors that carry maximum penalties of two years in prison and $5,000 fines.

Martin was preliminarily arraigned yesterday before Montgomery County Magisterial District Judge Catherine M. Hummel Fried and released on $30,000 unsecured bail. The case will be prosecuted in Montgomery County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Brian Coffey of the Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Section

Corbett thanked the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for their assistance with this investigation.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

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