On October 30, 2002, Tanknology - NDE, International, Inc. was sentenced in federal district court in Austin, Texas to pay a criminal fine of $1 million and pay restitution of $1.29 million to the United States for the costs of the potential retesting of underground storage tanks that the company had falsely tested. In addition, Tanknology will serve five years probation. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Tanknology will implement a quality management system to ensure that false and improper testing practices do not occur again.

The United States, on July 24, 2002, had filed criminal charges against Tanknology-NDE, International, Inc. (Tanknology) in 10 federal district courts. The United States also filed a plea agreement wherein Tanknology agreed to plead guilty to all 10 felony charges. The guilty pleas were for false underground storage tank (UST) testing services performed by Tanknology employees at federal facilities located in the States of Texas, California, Arizona, Illinois, Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey and the Commonwealths of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The pleas were entered in the Western District of Texas on August 29, 2002.

For additional information, contact:

Virginia Bueno
US EPA
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 564-8684
bueno.virginia@epa.gov

Karen Ellenberger
US EPA
Office of Underground Storage Tanks
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
(703) 603-7171
ellenberger.karen@epa.gov

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