GRAND RAPIDS — U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced Monday that ASP Plating Co. of Grand Haven, along with company officials Gary Rowe and Stephen Rowe, have pleaded guilty to criminal violations of the federal Clean Water Act.
The plea took place before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sally J. Berens in Grand Rapids. Galvanizing Kettle
ASP Plating and Gary Rowe, its president, pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the Clean Water Act. The company's vice president, Stephen Rowe, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.
Sentencing hearings will take place at a later date. According to court documents, Gary Rowe could face up to three years in prison, and fines from $5,000 to $250,000. Stephen Rowe could face up to one year in prison and fines from $2,500 to $100,000.
Gary Rowe, 70, lives in Grand Haven, while Stephen Rowe, 38, is a former Grand Haven resident who now lives in Oklahoma, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to public records, Gary and Stephen Rowe operated ASP Plating, an electroplating company that held an industrial pretreatment permit issued by the Grand Haven-Spring Lake Sewer Authority.
At least between 2015 and 2021, the company routinely violated the permit by dumping zinc in excess of the daily and monthly limitations, by releasing zinc in batches without notice, and by bypassing the mandatory pretreatment system entirely.
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The Sewer Authority periodically monitored the company’s discharges, but the Rowes instructed ASP Plating employees to make sure the monitor was absent before discharging wastewater containing excessive amounts of zinc.
“No resource is more precious in Michigan than our waters, which define the very boundaries of our state,” Totten said. “These defendants blatantly and repeatedly thwarted their obligation to properly treat and dispose of wastewater.
"As U.S. attorney, I will do everything I can to protect our water. Individuals and businesses that commit environmental crimes will be held accountable.”
Galvanising Line According to court documents, ASP Plating Co. was incorporated in 1969. The company's manufacturing plant is located at 211 N. Griffin St.