pleaded guilty in Feb. 2025<\/a> to knowingly discharging a pollutant without a permit, violating the Clean Water Act. <\/span><\/p>\nNeither Santich nor a representative from his company could be immediately reached for comment. Attorneys representing Santich and his company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. <\/span><\/p>\nOld Dutch Mustard Co., which manufactures mustard and vinegar in Greenville, N.H. near the Souhegan River, had a long history of not complying with the Clean Water Act, beginning in the 1980s, according to court documents. <\/span><\/p>\n\n
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Get N.H. Morning Report<\/span><\/p>\nA weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThat led to enforcement action from federal and state environmental authorities. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the US Environmental Protection Agency required the company to continuously monitor a stream that flows under the facility. <\/span><\/p>\nBut Santich and his company tried to intentionally evade that monitoring, according to court documents. <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThroughout years of repeated civil and administrative attempts to encourage Santich and his company to follow the law, Santich lied to state and federal authorities and even purposefully built the illegal infrastructure needed to pump his manufacturing waste into New Hampshire\u2019s waterways, pushing his employees to help him violate the law,\u201d Creegan said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\nShe said the pollution left waterways with fewer fish and impacted homeowners and people who recreate on the river. <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cAs the result of this years-long scheme of intentional misconduct and deceit, a criminal sanction is necessary to protect the public,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/p>\nNew Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said the case represents \u201ca deliberate effort to violate environmental laws and evade detection, putting one of New Hampshire\u2019s valued waterways at risk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cProtecting our rivers is a top priority, and our office will continue to pursue all appropriate actions to ensure compliance and safeguard New Hampshire\u2019s water quality,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\nSantich told his employees to pump acidic wastewater and stormwater through and underground pipe leading to the Souhegan River, so he could save on shipping costs, according to Creegan. <\/span><\/p>\nHis employees said Santich would fire them if they did not follow his orders, according to court documents. Creegan said Santich hid the crime by submitting false documents to federal regulators and obstructing the EPA\u2019s efforts to get data about how he disposed of wastewater. <\/span><\/p>\nThe pollution from Santich and his company likely contributed to a mercury fish consumption advisory, an EPA toxicologist testified at the sentencing. <\/span><\/p>\nState inspectors from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services found wastewater from the facility that smelled of vinegar<\/a> flowing into the Souhegan River in May 2023. Santich lied to the inspectors, and told them the smell was caused by a failed attempt to plant mustard seed. Inspectors found Santich\u2019s secret discharge pipe in August 2023 thanks to a search warrant. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nAmanda Gokee can be reached at amanda.gokee@globe.com<\/a>. Follow her @amanda_gokee<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n