Cytozyme Laboratories, Inc. to Pay 2 Million Dollars for Environmental Crimes
On Wednesday afternoon Cytozyme Laboratories, Inc. pled guilty to two counts of Unlawful Discharge of Pollutants. As a condition of the agreement, the defendant shall pay $2,000,000 within thirty days. The CEO of Cytozyme signed the plea.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office filed the initial charges on Wednesday October 27th. Today’s plea is the result of nearly two years’ worth of investigatory work by the Investigations Division of the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, together with the work of local Environmental Protection Agency officers, the Salt Lake County Health Department, South Salt Lake Public Works, and the Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility.
“Accountability matters.” Said District Attorney Sim Gill. “This is one of the largest criminal fines a corporation has faced for polluting in Utah history. Our job is not only to help keep our community safe, but also our environment. Protecting our resources today insures a better future for our children and community.”
“The defendants in this case illegally discharged pollutants for years from their South Salt Lake, Utah facility into the local sewer system,” said Special Agent in Charge Lance Ehrig of EPA’s Criminal Enforcement Program for the West-Central Area Office. “This case shows that EPA and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting community water systems and holding responsible those who violate water pollution regulations.”