SALISBURY MAN INDICTED FOR SEPTAGE DUMPING

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Paul Wayne Adkins, 60, of the 32400 block of Mount Hermon Road in Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland has been indicted in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County for water pollution and dumping offenses. The charges allege that Adkins violated the State's water pollution and dumping laws on May 21, 2003 by illegally discharging septage containing human fecal waste at Fooks Road, outside of Salisbury. Septage is the material that is removed from a septic tank when it is pumped out.

If convicted of the illegal discharge of a pollutant into waters of the State, Adkins could be sentenced to a year in prison and/or fined $25,000.The dumping for commercial purposes charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail and/or a fine of $25,000. The filing of an indictment is merely an accusation of criminal wrongdoing and each individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

These charges follow a joint investigation conducted by the Environmental Crimes Unit of the Office of the Attorney General and the Maryland State Police. No trial date has been set.

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