  
3/11/2026
WT Staff
 Got water questions? Have knowledge of a CWA crime? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email us at info@wtoh.us
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 142 pm EDT
CWA CrimeBox
Environmental Crimes Historic Conviction: Fiscal Year 2013; Case ID# CR_2500 (Ohio)
So you can operate a backhoe, just don't do this with it...
One of 867 Criminal Prosecutions under the Clean Water Act (from 1989-2024)
"Clean air and fresh water is the birthright of every man, woman and child in this state. Intentionally breaking environmental laws is not the cost of doing business, it's going to cost business owners their freedom."
Steven M. Dettelbach, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
The Defendants in this case are an oil and gas company, along with its owner, brought up on felony charges in Federal Court of the Southern District of Ohio. A single count violation of the Clean Water Act stems from this 2010 incident in Monroe County.
In the summer of 2010, the Defendants opened Cisler #3 oil and gas well for fracking in Monroe County. A large, earthen reservoir was initially filled with 2.2 million gallons of fresh water. Prior to creating fissures in the geology around the well, the owner-operator Defendant added 90 thousand gallons of highly saline, oily brine wastewater from other wells in the area.
Cisler #3 was fracked with approximately 1.5 million gallons of the brine wastewater, leaving around 800,000 gallons remaining in the reservoir. According to Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the contents of the reservoir require pre-treatment to remove contaminants prior to disposal. Samples taken from the site showed the high concentrations of barium and sodium in the reservoir, along with oily residue.
The day after the fracking of Cisler #3, the owner-operator Defendant got busy with heavy equipment to drain the reservoir. A backhoe was used to break through the earthen berm, releasing contaminated water into Rockcamp Run.
The corporation was assessed a federal fine and a three year term of probation. The owner-operator was sent to jail for two days and an overnight, followed by home detention and supervised release. The owner-operator was further required to perform community service.
Prison: 2 days; Home Confinement: 8 months; Federal Fines: $5,000; Community Service: 288 hours; Probation: 48 months
See last week's CWA CrimeBox here, Oil and gas wastewater deliberately dumped into a tributary of Mahoning River
CWA CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
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