Former Human Resources Manager pleads guilty in Santa Clara Waste Water facility explosion case

The Ventura County District Attorney said Friday that former Santa Clara Waste Water Company Human Resources Manager Marlene Faltemier pleaded guilty for her role in an explosion at Santa Clara Waste Water Company in Santa Paula in 2014.

The explosion injured dozens of employees and first responders.

The explosion happened on Nov. 18, 2014, at 3:45 a.m. at 815 Mission Rock Road.

Faltemier plead guilty to two felonies and two misdemeanor crimes in the indictment. They include conspiracy to impede an environmental enforcement official, conspiracy to fail to update a hazardous materials inventory, interference with enforcement and withholding information regarding a real and substantial danger.

Investigators said they found Faltemier exchanged text messages with convicted codefendant David Wirsing.

The messages detailed efforts to hide chemicals from environmental inspectors before inspections were completed in November 2014.

After the explosion, law enforcement confirmed Faltmier was aware fo the presence of over 5,000 gallons of a chemical named “Petromax” being on the site.

They say she failed to report the presence of these chemicals in the California Environmental Reporting System.

A sentencing hearing for Faltmier is scheduled for Oct. 10, 2019 in Ventura County Superior Court.