Investigations

On November 3, 2011, NH Environmental Group, Incorporated, d/b/a Tierra Environmental & Industrial Services, Incorporated; Ronald Holmes, Owner; and Stewart Roth, Project Manager, were indicted in U.S. District Court, Hammond, Indiana, on one count of Conspiracy and six counts of violating the Clean Water Act. 

From about January 2008 through June 2008, Mr. Holmes and Mr. Roth conspired to violate the Clean Water Act by instructing drivers to transport liquid waste and unlawfully discharge that wastewater in a facility owned by Mr. Holmes that was not permitted to receive it.  That wastewater was subsequently discharged into a local sanitary system, also known as a publicly-owned treatment works.  Mr. Holmes and Mr. Roth took steps to conceal this crime and charged customers for the same.  

This case was investigated by the Northern District of Indiana Environmental Crimes Task Force, including agents from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Coast Guard Criminal Investigative Service.  The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana and the Environmental Crimes Section of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division.  A press release was issued by the Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Division.