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BREVARD COUNTY - Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) law
enforcement agents recently arrested Rudolfo Milan, an employee of Pinch-A-Penny
Pools in Brevard County, for illegally dumping 300-500 gallons of industrial
wastewater, which contained four to five gallons of muriatic acid and four to
five pounds of sodium bicarbonate. Both Milan, 35, of Merrit Island, and his
employer, William Ahern, 51, were charged with commercial littering violations.
Both crimes are felonies punishable by up to three years imprisonment and a
$50,000 fine.
“We need all citizens to help protect Florida’s environment by reporting
environmental crimes, such as illegal dumping of wastewater, to the proper
authorities,” said DEP Division of Law Enforcement Director Henry Barnet.
“Thanks to concerned local citizens, watchful eyes and a quick response, law
enforcement agents were able to quickly and efficiently stop this environmental
crime from continuing.”
DEP agents began investigating the incident after receiving complaints to the
State Warning Point hotline. Milan had washed a private resident’s pool on
Merritt Island and a witness observed Milan pumping the resulting industrial
wastewater into a street gutter, which flows into two stormwater drains that run
into Sykes Creek. According to the complaint, the industrial wastewater was
foaming and bubbling in the street gutter and resulted in discoloration of the
gutter.
DEP’s Division of Law Enforcement is responsible for statewide environmental
resource law enforcement, providing law enforcement services to Florida’s state
parks and greenways and trails. Agents investigate environmental resource crimes
and illegal dredge and fill activities and respond to natural disasters, civil
unrest, hazardous material incidents and oil spills that can threaten the
environment.
To report environmental crime, most wireless customers can now dial #DEP.
Callers can also report environmental crimes to the State Warning Point by
calling (877) 2-SAVE-FL (1.877.272.8335). General environmental inquiries should
be directed to DEP district offices during business hours.
For more information about DEP’s Division of Law Enforcement, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/law.
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