West Valley plant blamed for contamination

Federal prosecutors say the U.K.-based parent company of a local gold and silver refining plant knew about the discharge of excessively high amounts of selenium into the Jordan River and Great Salt Lake and acted to conceal it from federal officials.

Last March a 29-count federal indictment was handed up by a grand jury against Johnson Matthey Inc., an international conglomerate with a local plant in West Valley City at 4601 W. 2100 South.

The indictment also names John David McKelvie, director of gold and silver operations for North America and Europe, and Paul Card Greaves, a former plant manager.

The indictment alleges the two men allowed illegally high amounts of selenium to discharge into local waters and then conspired to cover up the actions.

Long-term exposure to selenium can damage the kidneys and liver as well as harm the nervous and circulatory systems. High levels are also harmful to birds and affect their ability to reproduce.

In a superceding indictment filed in U.S. District Court Wednesday, federal prosecutors now allege that the plant's parent company, based in the United Kingdom, played a role in "conspiring to conceal the release of the contaminated wastewater into the sewers," a U.S. Department of Justice release states.

In a written statement Robert M. Talley, a vice president for Johnson Matthey, has said his company has cooperated fully with the federal investigation and is prepared to defend itself in federal court. Talley said Johnson Matthey has invested millions of dollars in environmental control equipment at the local refinery.

If convicted, the company faces millions in federal fines.

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E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com