ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING COMPANY TO PAY U.S. NEARLY $9 MILLION
TO SETTLE CLAIMS OF CONTRACTUAL VIOLATIONS

WASHINGTON, DC – Intertek Testing Services Environmental Laboratories has agreed to pay the United States $8.7 million to settle claims that the firm violated the False Claims Act. The government alleges that did not carry out the tests pursuant to contractual requirements with the government.

The False Claims Act applies when a company or person knowingly presents a false or fraudulent claim for payment or uses a false record or statement to get a claim paid by the federal government. The Act also applies if a company or person conspires with others to get a false or fraudulent claim paid or uses a false record or statement to conceal, avoid or decrease an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the government.

Intertek's now defunct Richardson, Texas laboratory tested air, liquid and soil samples for hazardous substances. The government's claims against the company were made on behalf of the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Air Force, Department of the Navy and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"This agreement demonstrates the Department's support for the efforts of EPA and others to insure that testing laboratories follow all required procedures when performing government funded projects," said Robert D. McCallum, Assistant Attorney General for the Department's Civil Division.

The civil investigation was jointly handled by the Department's Civil Division and the United States Attorney's Office in Dallas, with assistance from the respective agencies and EPA's Office of the Inspector General.

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