New webpage cites businesses disqualified from working with State Water Board due to fraud

California’s State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has rolled out a new webpage detailing businesses and individuals that have been disqualified from working with the State Water Board programs, including the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund.

“The webpage provides the public with vital details about the disqualifications. People working on projects required or funded by the Water Boards now have an important tool for evaluating entities with whom they do business,” said Cris Carrigan, director of the Office of Enforcement. “This one-stop summary is a testament to our efforts on cracking down on fraud, waste and abuse.”

Passed in September 2014, Senate Bill 445 authorized safeguards to fight fraud against the Cleanup Fund. Pursuant to the law the State Water Board now has the authority to: disqualify consultants, as well as claimants, from participating in the Cleanup Fund; impose penalties of up to $500,000 per violation; recover costs for investigation and prosecution; and, prosecute cases administratively. “

The new webpage lists disqualified businesses and persons as well as the State Water Board programs for which they are no longer permitted to perform work. The disqualifications are the result of allegations of fraud against the Cleanup Fund. (See the current disqualified businesses and individuals at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ustcf/dbp.shtml)

Additional information on the SWRCB’s efforts to prevent, investigate and prosecute fraud cases against the Cleanup Fund can be seen at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/publications_forms/publications/factsheets/docs/fraud_efforts_factsheet.pdf

Reporting suspected fraud against the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund requires completion of the attached form to initiate the process.  Report by email at [email protected], toll-free phone at (1-855) 263-0863, or by mailing or faxing a Fraud Reporting Complaint Form to the State Water Board at:

State Water Board Office of Enforcement

P.O. Box 100

Sacramento, CA 95812

Fax: (916) 341-5896

The Fraud Reporting Complaint Form is online at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ustcf/docs/fraudcomplaint_form.pdf