The chief operator of a local sewer plant is facing criminal charges.

Time and time again, the superintendent of Bolton’s sewer plant tampered with test results, according to DEC Police.

Thomas French, 37, of Bolton Landing, is facing criminal charges for reportedly filing false information about contaminants discharged from the public wastewater system.

Supervisor Ron Conover says suspicions about plant operations began May.

“Our consultants that work with us on the plant upgrades raised some concerns, about a year ago, relative to the operation of the plant which I immediately reported to DEC,” Conover said.

According to a DEC investigation, French added chemicals to manipulate monthly test results and show that they were in compliance with the state.

Communities like Lake George could be the collateral damage.

“That sewage effluent passes through the groundwater. If it isn’t stripped of nitrates, nitrates will promote algae growth and that’s a problem,” Dennis Dickinson, Lake George Supervisor, said. “The algae growth degrades water quality. You put something in nature that doesn’t belong there, it can have all kinds of effects. Some immediate and apparent and some not, some are long term.”

French had nothing to say when we stopped by his home.

He’s facing up to $10,000 in fines and four years in prison.

Conover insists the plant is working properly.

“I’m told by our consultants, while it’s a 50-year-old plant, it’s operating very well. I’d like to think that, out of this, we can get to a better place that would be my hope.”

French remains the plant’s chief operator but has been suspended with pay.

Conover discusses the next steps with the town board.

Here is the statement from DEC officials:

“On Tuesday, DEC’s Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) arrested chief operator Thomas A. French ll following a year-long investigation by DEC’s Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigations (BECI) unit into allegations of fraudulent testing and treatment of sewage at the plant. 

The town of Bolton Wastewater Treatment facility, like all facilities in the state, is strictly regulated with respect to treated wastewater. Police allege that French was fabricating test results to show the treatment plant was in compliance and illegally reporting these results to DEC.

French, 37, of Bolton Landing, was processed and arraigned in Albany by DEC investigators with assistance from New York State Police. He was charged with four counts of falsifying business records in the second degree (a misdemeanor), four counts of offering a false instrument for filing (a class E felony), and two counts of tampering with or knowingly rendering inaccurate any monitoring device or method required (a class E felony).

DEC’s Division of Water staff are currently working with Bolton officials to actively monitor and rectify the situation.

To report an environmental crime, call DEC’s 24-hour dispatch at 1-844-DEC-ECOS (1-844-332-3367).”