A Long Beach fireman and his firm were charged in San Diego federal court Tuesday with the illegal disposal of sewage underground, in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Kyle Vestermark and his firm, Dunes Edge Storage, allegedly discharged sewage illegally from recreational vehicles stored at the Dunes Edge Storage location in Brawley as well as another location known as Dunes Toy Storage in Holtville without a permit during the period from October 2011 to April 2015.
According to an eight-count indictment, Vestermark, 46, obtained a permit in 2004 for a 10,000-gallon holding tank for the RV sewage at the Dunes Edge location from the Imperial County Public Health Department which specifically prohibited the installation of underground leach lines (an issue which Vestermark had raised during the permitting process).
The indictment further alleges that Vestermark also obtained a Conditional Use Permit from the Imperial County Planning Department in 2005 for the Dunes Toy Storage location in Holtville, which also specifically prohibited the installation of underground leach lines for the disposal of RV sewage.
The permits required Vestermark to hire a septage firm to pump out the RV sewage from the holding tanks and dispose of it at a wastewater treatment plant.
In spite of the specific prohibitions, prosecutors allege that Vestermark used heavy equipment in 2005 and 2006 to install underground leach lines at both locations that would permit the RV sewage to leach out underground for disposal.
According to the indictment, the leach lines were removed in 2015 after Vestermark’s actions were discovered by Imperial County authorities. The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of about $380,000, alleged to be the proceeds of the offenses.
–City News Service
