No subject

on, USFilter will be known as Veolia Water North America.=20
<P>The town's relationship with the company is currently in limbo. Last =
month,=20
officials sent a letter to USFilter stating that the town has decided to =

terminate its contract with the company. The decision to cut ties with =
the=20
company came on the heals of a recommendation by the state inspector =
general=20
office to do just that.=20
<P>The investigation by the state inspector general was spawned by the =
results=20
of a forensic audit on the Rockland Sewer Department which revealed =
numerous=20
problems with the town's contract with USFilter, misappropriations of =
town money=20
by USFilter, as well as how money was allegedly stolen from the town by =
former=20
Sewer Superintendent Gregory Thomson and former USFilter regional =
district=20
manager Michael Sause.=20
<P>The audit also revealed that the contract was not properly procured =
and the=20
Request For Proposal was tailor made to ensure USFilter received the =
contract.=20
<P>While the town has terminated the contract with USFilter, the company =
is=20
still running the town's sewer plant.=20
<P>"We are not going anywhere," said company spokeswoman Christi Kaluza. =
"We=20
would never pack up our bags and leave the town stranded. That would be =
an=20
environmental hazard. We just want to work this out."=20
<P>Kaluza said the company will work with the town until this mess is =
cleared=20
up. Selectmen said they're planning to make a new Request For Proposal =
and ask=20
for companies to bid to run the town's sewer plant. Selectmen Chairman =
Larry=20
Ryan said USFilter is more than welcome to submit a bid.=20
<P>If the company decides to submit a bid, it will be under its new =
name.=20
<P>Kaluza said the name change results from a Sept. 2003 announcement by =

USFilter's parent company of its intention to sell select USFilter =
equipment and=20
consumer businesses and to focus on its core outsourcing services =
business.=20
<P>The name change, which does not involve any sale or asset transfer, =
will not=20
affect business except to improve it, added Kaluza.=20
<P>"While the USFilter name certainly has brand recognition, we will =
have a=20
greater advantage in the marketplace under the Veolia Water name," =
stated Mike=20
Stark, president and CEO of Veolia Water North America in a press =
release. "With=20
the transition to the Veolia Water's $13 billion global business - the =
provision=20
of long-term design build and operate water and wastewater services =
through=20
public-private partnerships and industrial outsourcing agreements. Our =
business=20
is what Veolia Water does every day around the world for more than 110 =
million=20
people and thousands of companies."=20
<P>This isn't the first time that the company has changed its name.=20
<P>Rockland officials said USFilter has been operating the town's sewer =
plant=20
since 1994. They added Veolia initiated the first two contracts on the =
project=20
between itself and the town under different names, not USFilter.=20
<P>The first contract was signed by the town with Metcalf &amp; Eddy =
Services,=20
Inc., which was subsequently bought by PSG. The contract was for three =
years.=20
The second contact was signed in 1998 between the town and PSG. The =
contract was=20
to last 10 years with an option for an additional 10 years.=20
<P>In 1999, Vivendi bought USFilter and took over the operation of the =
town's=20
sewer plant. USFilter took over running most of the plants that were =
previously=20
run by PSG after another incident that happened in New Orleans.=20
<P>The U.S. District Court in Houston, Texas, charged former PSG =
President=20
Michael Stump, former PSG Vice- President William Gottenstrater, PSG =
executive=20
H. Grant Simmons and company attorney Salvador Anzelmo with one count of =

conspiracy, four counts of interstate travel in aid of bribery, four =
counts of=20
mail fraud, and one count of wire fraud.=20
<P>The U.S. District Court in Houston also charged Katherine Maraldo, a =
former=20
member of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, with accepting =
$70,000 to=20
pay for her mortgage and getting free legal advice from a PSG attorney =
in her=20
attempts to sell the property.=20
<P>According to the indictment, the four PSG defendants conspired to =
provide=20
legal services and cash payments to then-board member Maraldo in order =
to=20
influence and reward Maraldo for supporting PSG's business interests =
with the=20
New Orleans Sewerage &amp; Water Board.=20
<P>Kaluza said the company's name change has nothing to do with recent =
bad press=20
about the company.=20
<P>"Our name is changing, but more importantly, so is the market -and =
very=20
quickly," said Stark. "Cities and towns will need to spend an estimated =
$500=20
billion to $1 trillion on water and wastewater infrastructure over the =
next 20=20
years, according to various estimates from the EPA and water industry=20
associations. Consequently, most communities need help improving their =
water and=20
wastewater infrastructure and ensuring water quality while keeping rates =

affordable. Public-private partnerships are continuing to prove a =
valuable tool=20
for more than 1,200 communities across North America, and they are =
constantly=20
being refined.=20
<P>"With our tightened focus, Veolia Water North America will continue =
to grow=20
and change to meet the needs of this quickly evolving and expanding =
market.=20
Municipalities and businesses alike need long-term technical expertise =
focused=20
on cost efficiency and the environment, and that's what we can offer," =
said=20
Stark</P></FONT></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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