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EDDYVILLE, IOWA --

United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt announced today that Chamness Technology, Inc. pled guilty to one count of negligent discharge of a pollutant from a point source into a water of the United States without a permit.

On Nov. 1, 2010, the Iowa Division of Natural Resources responded to a complaint of a discharge in the Palestine Creek in Wapello County.

An investigation revealed that leachate water and storm water runoff had been discharged from an umbilical hose at Chamness Technology, Inc.’s compost facility located outside Eddyville, Iowa. An employee of Chamness Technology, Inc. caused the discharge by failing to attach the umbilical hose and ensure the umbilical hose was connected to a spray irrigator at the facility.

The leachate water and storm water runoff entered the Palestine Creek and flowed to the Des Moines River, but the discharge was not permitted. The employee acted within the scope of employment and intended at least in part to benefit Chanmess Technology, Inc. through the employee’s actions.

Chamness Technology, Inc. faces a maximum sentence of up to five years of probation and a $200,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Iowa Division of Natural Resources, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.