Seven Up/RC So. Cal Bottling Co. Reaches $1 Million Settlement with EPA

In the largest Clean Water Act case ever taken against a soft drink bottler, the Seven-Up/RC Bottling Co. of Southern California has agreed to pay more than $1 million in criminal and civil fines for industrial storm water and wastewater violations at its soft drink bottling plants in Vernon and Buena Park, Calif.

Under the terms of this global settlement, which concludes three years of investigation into both Seven-Up facilities by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles and the EPA, the Seven-Up/RC Bottling Company of Southern California will pay a $600,000 criminal penalty and a $428,250 civil penalty.

Attorneys for Seven-Up are scheduled to appear in United States District Court in Los Angeles to enter guilty pleas to 12 counts of violating the Clean Water Act.

"Today's settlement reinforces EPA's commitment to protect public health by holding Seven-Up accountable for their illegal discharges into the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers," said Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency's Pacific Southwest Region. "We will continue to protect our waters and human health and prosecute those who violate our environmental laws."

United States Attorney Debra Wong Yang stated: "The health of our citizens and our environment are of paramount importance. We strive to keep our waters clean and ensure that business does its part to protect the environment. I am pleased that the Seven-Up/RC Bottling Co. has taken responsibility for its actions. The criminal fine paid by the company will benefit several environment programs that will benefit all citizens of Southern California."

Polluted runoff is the leading cause of water pollution in the Los Angeles area. Stormwater runoff can carry pollutants from industrial sources metals, oil and grease, acidic wastewater, bacteria, trash and other toxic pollutants into nearby water sources. The EPA requires industrial facilities to prevent water pollution by complying with federal and state water pollution requirements.

Source: EPA