Jackson Jambalaya

 Partridge-Sibley Industrial Services issued the following statement. 

Partridge-Sibley Industrial Services, Inc. ("PSI") has resolved the investigation of its involvement in the illegal discharges by Rebel High Velocity Sewer Services of Jackson ("Rebel") of industrial wastewater during the period from January 2017 to October 2017.

As part of a settlement with the federal government, PSI agreed to one misdemeanor charge for negligence and to pay a fine of $200,000.00. After a lengthy investigation that spanned more than 5 years and was conducted by the Department of Justice, the FBI, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Brandon, all the officers, managers and directors of PSI were cleared of any wrongdoing or involvement in Rebel's illegal discharges. Throughout the entire investigation, PSI fully cooperated with all of the agencies who were involved in the investigation.

The wastewater at issue was generated by Gold Coast Commodities of Brandon, Mississippi. Gold Coast arranged for Rebel to treat and dispose of the wastewater, and Gold Coast hired PSI to transport the wastewater to Rebel. The wastewater that PSI transported to Rebel was legally transported and was not hazardous or acidic.

PSl's alleged negligence centered around PSI believing Rebel's various representations and assurances that Rebel was using its water treatment equipment to properly treat the wastewater, and that Rebel had a permit to discharge treated water into Jackson's sewer system. As it turned out, Rebel's representations to PSI were not true. Without PSl's knowledge or involvement, Rebel discharged the wastewater into the sewer system without properly treating it. Once PSI found out what Rebel was doing, PSI immediately ceased transporting any more wastewater to Rebel. Rebel's owner, Andy Walker, has since pleaded guilty to intentional violations of the Clean Water Act.

In resolving the matter with PSI, the government did not claim that the wastewater PSI transported to Rebel actually damaged Jackson's sewer system or its wastewater treatment facility.

At a time when many businesses have left Jackson, PSI is proud to be located in Jackson for the last 37 years and has worked to be a good corporate citizen. Over the years, PSI has helped the City in a number of ways, including by saving the City over $5 million on the EPA-mandated disposal of sludge that was removed from the City's wastewater treatment lagoons, and by responding to the City's requests to provide and distribute non­ potable water to the citizens of Jackson during many of the water shortage crises.