Park Dedication Fulfills Plea Agreement

Less than two years after pleading guilty to a violation of the Clean Water Act, Novozymes Biological Inc. – a subsidiary of Denmark-based Novozymes A/S, one of the largest biotechnology firms in the world – has satisfied the terms of a plea agreement entered into with the United States to turn an area adjacent to the Roanoke River into a walking trail and park.

In December 2008, representatives for the company admitted that on several occasions between October 2004 and April 2005, Novozymes’ employees knowingly discarded a total of approximately 4,015 gallons of off-specification and outdated products to floor drains inside the company’s Salem, Virginia warehouse. The drains led these waste materials directly to an adjacent creek known as Masons Creek, which is a tributary of the Roanoke River, an interstate river.

Novozymes took full responsibility for the spill and, as part of a plea agreement, consented to constructing a park and walking trail along the Roanoke River to better control runoff and water quality in the river. The park, named in honor of Vic Thomas, was dedicated on Tuesday.

“This case demonstrates the Department’s commitment to protect our environment and prosecute those who violate Federal laws meant to protect our air, land and water resources,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “Today’s dedication of Vic Thomas Park is a good example of this agreement’s main benefit – the Clean Water Act violator’s creation of a beautiful, productive new outdoor space. We commend Novozymes for their corporate responsibility and effort to create Vic Thomas Park, a resource that will be enjoyed by our entire community.”

Novozymes, located locally in Salem, manufactures, packages, stores and distributes a wide variety of industrial microbiological products used for wastewater treatment, soil remediation, septic and drain line maintenance and grease degradation, among other uses. Representatives from the company have admitted to discarding a foaming agent through a warehouse floor drain. The foaming agent traveled from Masons Creek into the Roanoke River where three children who were playing in the water suffered minor skin rashes and eye irritation. In addition, approximately 6,670 fish were killed along the stream as a result of the water contamination.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Blue Ridge Environmental Task Force.

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