Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte and Commissioner Thomas S. Burack, of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services ("DES"), announce that, on April 10, 2007, the Strafford County Superior Court (Fauver, J.) issued an order approving a settlement between the State of New Hampshire and Hillsboro resident Alec Bottomly related to falsifying a water quality test result for the Halcyon Hill Motor Home Park in Barrington, New Hampshire.

Under the terms of the settlement, Mr. Bottomly agreed to a civil penalty of $10,000, with $2,500 due immediately. The remaining $7,500 will be suspended provided Mr. Bottomly does not violate State law again within the next two years.

Under State law, testing is required for public drinking water supplies such as the one at the Halcyon Hill Mobile Home Park. DES discovered the forged test result while conducting routine quality control review of documents submitted by Mr. Bottomly related to Methyl tertiary-butyl ether ("MtBE"). DES found that the identification number on the test result matched a previous identification number. After investigating further, DES confirmed that a previous result had been altered and then resubmitted in place of a new one.

"Regardless of the circumstances, falsifying a test result is a serious matter. When a violation involves drinking water and public health, DES is committed to prosecuting this type of illegal activity," said DES Commissioner Thomas Burack. "We review information related to drinking water very thoroughly to guard against exactly this type of behavior. Water system operators are certified by DES to perform an important public health function that is not to be taken lightly."

"There is no excuse for falsifying a test result," said Attorney General Ayotte. "If you submit false information, you will be penalized."

For further information, contact Assistant Attorney General K. Allen Brooks or Senior Assistant Attorney General Jennifer J. Patterson at (603) 271-3679.