The superintendent of the Bolton wastewater treatment facility has been arrested for allegedly falsifying the sampling results of state regulated wastewater tests, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation announced today.

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.

If convicted, French faces fines of up to $10,000 and four years in prison. The case is being handled by the Albany County District Attorney's office, as the document filings were submitted to DEC at its state office headquarters in Albany.

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