Wal-Mart Pleads Guilty To Toxic Dumping: 16 California Counties Left With Hazardous Chemicals In Sewer Systems

Smog isn't the only environmental concern on the minds of Californians, after one corporation admitted to a recent slip-up.

Discount retailer giant Wal-Mart will pay $81 million after pleading guilty on Tuesday to illegally dumping toxic waste in the sewer systems of 16 counties across California, according to court documents attained by the Associated Press.

While the chain also pleaded guilty in Kansas City, Mo., for breaking state laws involving the discarding and distribution of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, municipalities spanning across the Golden State were the hardest hit by the hazardous materials.

Court documents also revealed that most of the illegal dumping occurred between 2003 and 2005 from Del Norte in northern California to Orange in southern California.

Wal-Mart was charged with misdemeanor counts of violating the Clean Water Act and other Environmental Agency Protection legislation.

"By improperly handling hazardous waste, pesticides and other materials in violation of federal laws, Wal-Mart put the public and the environment at risk and gained an unfair economic advantage over other companies," Justice Department spokeswoman Ignacia S. Moreno told the Associated Press.

Moreno serves as the assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division.

The ten-year investigation and subsequent charges prompted Wal-Mart to hire a team of approximately 50 employees that will administer training in the proper disposal of hazardous chemicals.