Taney County man violates Clean Water Act

A Taney County man pleaded guilty yesterday to submitting false water samples from a wastewater treatment facility while knowingly allowing sewage to flow into Table Rock Lake for nearly a year.

Bruce Morris, 63, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty to federal charges of making false statements in violation of the Clean Water Act, according to a news release from Tammy Dickinson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Morris had been employed by Light Environmental Inc. when the Greenwood-based company was hired to provide wastewater sampling services at Taney County subdivision Landmarc Estates and submitting wastewater sample results to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, as required by federal permit. Morris was responsible for the operation of the facility - located less than 100 years from Table Rock Lake - from March 2008 to January 2009.

During that time period, the facility did not properly treat its wastewater, which discharged into a roadside ditch and flowed downhill into the lake. The facility's only source of operating power - an electronically operated motor - was inoperable during the time period, resulting in raw, untreated sewage being released in the lake, the release said.

Morris was responsible for the upkeep of the facility but did not take measures to repair it. Aware the facility was in violation of its permit, Morris admitted he substituted test samples from another wastewater treatment facility, causing false reports to be submitted to the state.

According to the plea agreement, a state inspector found at least 10 violations at the Landmarc Estates facility, the worst of which was the untreated sewage discharge into the lake.

Under federal statues, Morris is subject to up to 10 years in federal prison without parole and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing will be scheduled following the presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Mohlhenrich and was investigated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the criminal investigation division of the Environmental Protection Agency.