Caesars riverboat cited for pollution violation

Monday, June 4, 2001 | 10:29 a.m.

BRIDGEPORT, Ind. -- State environmental regulators have cited Park Place Entertainment Corp.'s Caesars riverboat casino for major wastewater discharge violations that sent improperly treated sewage into the Ohio River.

Regulators said the problem stems from the large volume of grease and oil entering the riverboat's wastewater treatment process from its four restaurants.

The company has been ordered to submit a plan for correcting the problems within 10 days.

Caesars spokeswoman Judy Hess said the company had not seen the state's notice, and therefore can't comment until it had been reviewed.

The state said Caesars violated the law by discharging inadequately treated waste into the river. That letter said "floating debris, oil or scum" had been found in the Ohio River as a result of the violations.

The enforcement action marks the first time in nearly two years that Caesars, which opened in November 1998, has been found in violation of an environmental permit.

archive