Published in the Asbury Park Press
STAFF REPORT
TRENTON — Two former managers for United Water Toms River were indicted today by a state grand jury for shutting down a well during water quality testing in order to conceal the actual level of contaminants in the drinking water, Attorney General Zulima V. Farber and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw said.
George Flegal, 56, former United Water general manager, and Richard Ottens Jr., 52, both of Jackson, were each indicted on two counts of tampering with public records, a third-degree crime, and two counts of falsifying records, a fourth-degree crime, in connection with two reports based on false testing that were submitted to the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The indictment alleges that Flegal and Ottens agreed to shut down one of the three wells in Berkeley that led to the point of entry for the company's drinking water distribution system on Sept. 12, 2005 during a scheduled compliance sampling for radiation in the drinking water. The two men were allegedly concerned that high levels of radiation in one well would cause the system to exceed the maximum allowable levels for radiation.
The water system had previously exceeded radiation levels. In February, United Water revealed that the company had failed to report seven instances of elevated radiation levels in its sytem in 2005, violating state law.
Ottens and Flegal were fined $5,000 each by the DEP for turning off the well. Flegal and Ottens have denied the charges.
Crimes of the third degree carry sentences of up to five years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree crimes carry sentences of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Published in the Asbury Park Press 06/15/06
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