© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New London CEO Guilty of Violating Clean Water Act

Flickr Creative Commons / manoftaste.de

The former CEO of a New London company has pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Water Act. According to federal prosecutors, the infractions date back to 1986 and involve toxic discharges into the city's sewer system.

The Clean Water Act says a company must obtain a permit before it can discharge industrial wastewater into public sewers. According to federal prosecutors, Thomas Fariaignored that. He's the former CEO of Sheffield Pharmaceuticals, a New London company he took over in 2003 that employs about 150 workers.

Prosecutors said Faria's company had been violating the Clean Water Act since 1986, dumping toxic chemicals like zinc into New London's sewer system. Those chemicals then made their way into the Thames River. Employees alerted Faria to the violation, but prosecutors said he made no effort to comply with the law until 2011, when the company installed a $200,000 treatment system.

Faria will be sentenced in October. He faces a series of fines and up to three years in prison. Read the plea agreement here.

Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. He can be reached at pskahill@ctpublic.org.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content