Oregon Public Broadcasting

The former director of the Port of Astoria pled guilty Thursday to violating the Clean Water Act. As Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, he was dredging around the docks to accommodate large cruise ships.

Under an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Port is allowed to dredge. But collected sediment is supposed to be pumped into upland containment ponds to settle.

Then, it can be tested for mercury, PCBs and other poisons. Peter Gearin admitted to letting the sediment drain straight through the ponds and back to the river – so he didn’t have to wait and more dredging could be done.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Neil Evans, says Oregonians expect public officials to obey the rules.

Neil Evans: “If we can’t trust the management of our public entities, we can’t expect private industry to comply with the environmental rules and regulations.”

Gearin was fired in 2007. He faces three years in prison.  The Port has also agreed to pay $170,000 in fines.