BUDA -- Officers from state and local agencies recently arrested Everett Conner, public works director for the City of Buda. Conner was charged with water pollution related to the discharge of thousands of gallons of untreated sewage from the Buda Wastewater Treatment Plant into a pit less than 250 feet from the banks of Onion Creek.
Law enforcement officers from Texas Parks and Wildlife, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Lower Colorado River Authority made the arrest based on the charges, which are a violation of the Texas Water Code. Under the Texas Water Code, violation of the unauthorized intentional discharge law carries a fine of $1,000 to $100,000 and/or one year in jail for each count.
The arrest is the result of an ongoing investigation that regional and state environmental task forces began more than a year ago into the plant's operations. TPW is the lead agency in the investigation. The misdemeanor arrest warrant was issued based on information filed by the Travis County Attorney's Office.
Agencies that participate in the State Environmental Task Force include the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the EPA, Texas Parks and Wildlife, LCRA, and the FBI. Agencies participating in the Regional Environmental Task Force include LCRA, the City of Austin, and the counties of Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis and Williamson.
The environmental task forces were created to address environmental crimes in Texas.