A wastewater treatment plant operator in Eastern Carolina is now facing charges.

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced 49-year-old John Belangia of New Bern was charged with eight counts of falsifying records at the Trenton, Jones County wastewater treatment plant he was contracted to operate.

Officials say an investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation and the N.C. Division of Water Quality led to this week’s arrest.

According to a news release, "the N.C. Division of Water Quality contacted the SBI’s Diversion and Environmental Crimes Unit for assistance when the division identified what appeared to be inconsistencies in the facility’s recordkeeping. The state Division of Water Quality is responsible for oversight and permitting of the wastewater treatment plant’s National Pollution Discharge System, a federally-mandated program."