(MONTGOMERY, Ala.) — A former Environmental Protection Agency official faces multiple ethics charges in connection with an effort to stop cleanup of a polluted Alabama neighborhood, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday.
The indictment shows that Trey Glenn faces six felony counts and 14 misdemeanors. The charges appear to relate to his work as a private consultant with a coal company regarding the Superfund site in Birmingham.
Glenn and former business partner Scott Phillips are charged with multiple violations of Alabama’s Ethics Act, including soliciting a thing of value from a lobbyist or person who employs a lobbyist and using a public position for personal gain.
Local news media report that Glenn and Phillips worked together in a company called Southeast Engineering and Consulting. Phillips was then a member of the Alabama Environmental Management Commission.
Accusations include that Glenn helped Phillips receive compensation from Drummond coal company. Alabama law forbids officials from using positions for personal gain.
Glenn and Phillips have maintained their innocence. In a statement provided by a lawyer last week, Glenn denied the charges.
“The charges against me are totally unfounded, and will be vigorously defended,” Glenn said. “I am innocent and expect to be fully vindicated.”
Glenn served as the regional EPA administrator for eight Southeastern states. He resigned Sunday after the indictment was announced.
A Drummond executive and an attorney were convicted in July on charges of bribing a state lawmaker to publicly oppose the cleanup and urge neighborhood and local leaders to also do so.
