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Breaking: EPA Says Lupo Dumped at Least 6 Times
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – D&L Energy owner and president Ben Lupo admitted to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency that he directed his employees to illegally discharge drilling wastewater on at least six different occasions since September, an OEPA official said Monday.
It means that potentially hundreds of thousands of gallons of contaminated waste could have been dumped into a storm drain and carried into the Mahoning River, Kurt Kollar, on scene coordinator for the OEPA, told reporters during a news conference in Mayor Chuck Sammarone's office.
"He [Lupo] has said that it has occurred on several occasions," Kollar said. "He stated on the record, at least six times since September 2012."
In its report dated Feb. 5, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states, "The storm sewer outfalls to a small creek that flows for approximately 200 yards then into the Mahoning River. Oil was observed flowing from the storm sewer outfall, in the creek, and in the Mahoning River." CLICK HERE to download reports.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources was tipped off by an anonymous source Jan. 31, and its investigators subsequently witnessed workers from Hardrock Excavating, a company owned by Lupo, illegally discharging drilling wastewater and mud into a storm drain.
Lupo's D&L Energy and Hardrock Excavating were effectively shutdown Feb. 7 by ODNR, which revoked all of the companies' permits to operate (READ STORY).
Initial reports said 20,000 gallons were discharged into the sewer; then the number became 40,000 gallons.
Kollar said that inspectors have found that sediments of the creek leading into the Mahoning River are "heavily inundated with layers of oil, supporting the fact that this isn't a one-time offense."
A state and federal criminal investigation is under way, Kollar said.
The U.S. EPA said Feb. 5 that agency officials "oversaw the deployment of containment and absorbent boom and pads in the Mahoning River and the creek, the inspection and flushing of the storm sewer system between the discharge and the Mahoning River, the mopping up of oil with absorbents, and the construction of two underflow dams."
In its Feb. 5 report, the agency also reported the "oil is confined and stabilized in the creek leading to the Mahoning River."
MORE: Tuesday at BusinessJournalDaily.com
CONTINUING COVERAGE:
EPA: 40K Gallons Dumped; Hagan Demands Arrest
D&L Energy Says It May Appeal Shutdowns
Ohio Shuts Down Lupo's D&L, Hardrock Excavating
D&L's Lupo Owns Company That Dumped Drilling Waste
Petitions Filed for Citizens' Bill of Fracking Rights
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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