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11/5/2025
WT Staff
 Knowledge of an environmental crime? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email info@wtny.us
Nov 5, 2025 426 pm EDT
CrimeBox
Historic Conviction Fiscal Year 2014; Case ID# CR_2578(Ohio)
Oil drilling wastewater deliberately discharged in Lake Erie drainage basin, oilfield worker convicted
"Clean, fresh water is one of our greatest resources in Northern Ohio. We must and will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute cases in which people pollute Ohio's streams, rivers and lakes."
-Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
"Dumping toxic substances like brine into sewers and rivers can be extremely harmful to the environment and a real threat to Ohio families," said Ohio Attorney General, now Governor, Mike DeWine. "We will continue to work with our task force partners to enforce environmental protection laws and hold violators accountable."
The defendant in this case was an oil and gas worker for Great Plains Exploration, operating in northeast Ohio in 2008. Two counts felony violation of the Clean Water Act were presented by bill of information to the Federal District Court of Northern Ohio. The defendant plead guilty to both counts.
The 45-year old defendant, a resident of Dover, determined that highly saline brine fluid from completed oil wells should be discharged illegally, on two separate occasions in 2008. On both occasions, the oily wastewater was allowed to flow through a storm drain leading to Beecher Brook. Beecher Brook feeds the Chagrin River, carrying contaminants to the trans-boundary Great Lake, Lake Erie, source of drinking water for many millions of people in the USA and Canada.
According to the Department of Justice press release of October 17, 2013, "Brine is water with a high quantity of salt dissolved into it and is used during the drilling phase of the well installation. It must be handled and disposed of properly because of the toxicity of brine."
Sentencing involved a federal fine and two years probation for the defendant.
Federal Fine: $2,000; Probation: 24 months
See last week's CrimeBox, "Pushing excess rip-rap over the cliff does not work out for this homeowner in Maryland", here.
CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
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