A construction company and three of its supervisors have been sentenced in Florida for environmental crimes related the construction of the Garcon Point Bridge that spans Pensacola Bay.
Odebrecht-Metric admitted to violating the Clean Water Act in the course of building the 3.6-mile bridge.
The company was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Pensacola, Fla., to pay a $1 million criminal fine and $3 million in restitution.
Three corporate superintendents -- Frank Doddi, Steven Spry and Marcelino Romero -- were each sentenced to serve three years probation and pay a $1,000 fine.
In August, each superintendent admitted to negligently failing to supervise construction workers and prevent the dumping of waste debris into the bay under the bridge.
Court documents revealed that during construction of the bridge from 1997 to 1999, debris, including concrete, cement pilings and steel reinforcement bars were dumped into the open water.
The company''s permit allowed it to dump nonhazardous construction debris several miles off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, where it could have been properly used as reef material.
Investigative dives and sonar revealed that, as a result of the criminal activity, at least 3.75 acres of construction debris had been left under the bridge span on the bottom of the East Bay and the Pensacola Bay.
Odebrecht-Metric will pay restitution to the Garcon Point Restoration Trust, which will use the funds to clean up and restore the bay.
In addition, the company also will pay restitution to several state and local agencies that responded to the illegal dumping.
As part of a plea agreement, Odebrecht-Metric also has agreed to purchase 60 acres of land in Santa Rosa County and donate it to the state of Florida for conservation and public use.
Additionally, the company will pay $500,000 into a state fund created to help finance environmental crime investigations in Florida.
by Virginia Sutcliffe