030633 Tyson Foods Pleads Guilty to Felony Charges

The Environmental Protection Agency has lowered the boom on the Tyson poultry plant in Sedalia. The plant was hit with a $7.5 million fine for what the government calls a "history of environmental abuse."

Tyson's Sedalia plant produces 2.5 million pounds of cooked chicken per week. Federal and state investigators have been the on the plant since 1998 for dumping untreated wastewater into a nearby creek, KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported.

Wednesday, Tyson pleaded guilty to 20 felony violations of the Clean Water Act at the Sedalia plant. Investigators said Tyson ignored repeated warnings to stop dumping the wastewater. In fact, investigators were stunned to learn Tyson wasn't just dumping from one site.

"They were handling all their wastewater in an irresponsible manner," said Joe Bindbeutel, the Missouri deputy attorney general.

Agents raided the Tyson Sedalia plant twice in 1999 for similar violations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Stewart said prosecutors believed Tyson continued violates even after the raids.

Jeremy Krozenik, a Department of Justice official, said he couldn't recall any other case where violations continued after the execution of two federal search warrants. Krozenik called the behavior "stunning."

Gary Mickelson, a representative for Tyson Foods, Inc., read a prepared statement from the company to reporters.

"Today, we have taken full responsibility for past problems at Sedalia. More importantly, we have already completed improvements and implemented other measures to make sure the plant operates in full compliance," Mickelson said.

Tyson said this is the first time it has been hit with criminal fines for an environmental violation. Prosecutors said they did it because the violations were so bad, Mahoney reported. Tyson promised to regularly check to make sure the plant stays within the law.

Mickelson said the problem "did not result in any significant or long-term environmental impact." However, Krozenik said cumulative pollution does create an environmental harm. He said investigators were not required to measure the damage.

The plant employs about 1,800 people and has a payroll of more than $40 million annually. It is one of Sedalia's biggest employers.

Prosecutors said Tyson is asking for video from the raids at the Sedalia plant because the pictures are so graphic, the company wants to use them as examples of what not to do, Mahoney reported.

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