A former West Milford resident was indicted last week on charges he dumped sewage into a storm drain near West Milford Lake.
Anthony Serpe, a 55-year-old now living in Greenwood Lake, New York, was arrested in March 2021 after authorities accused him of illegally pumping and dumping effluent from a residential septic system.
Officials said Serpe illegally collected between 250 and 1,000 gallons of effluent before releasing a portion into a storm drain at William and Center streets near the now-drained lake.
Police said a nearby resident supplied them with photos of the alleged dumping before Serpe’s 2021 arrest. Police said they later found raw sewage in the catch basin and Serpe with the septic truck on Route 23 in Riverdale.
West Milford Lake has been drained since 1999, when the dam was breached in favor of state-mandated repairs.
State officials said last week that Serpe did not have approval from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to collect solid waste.
“Our Environmental Crimes Unit is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting violations of the state’s water pollution, air pollution, hazardous waste and solid waste laws, no matter how large or small,” said Lyndsay Ruotolo of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Our message is simple and clear. If you are polluting the environment, you will face serious consequences.”
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Serpe’s charges include a third-degree violation of New Jersey’s Water Pollution Control Act and illegal collection of solid waste. He faces three years or more in state prison if convicted of the charges, officials said.
David Zimmer is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: zimmer@northjersey.com
Twitter: @dzimmernews
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