DEP Shuts Two Firms in Dumping Case
Permit revoked for company accused of wastewater pollution
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
22 March 2011
By Don Hopey
The state Department of Environmental Protection on Monday ordered a
Greene County wastewater hauling business and a wastewater treatment
facility to shut down immediately, after a grand jury last week
recommended criminal charges against the owner and one of the
businesses for illegally dumping millions of gallons of gas well
drilling water and municipal sludge.
The administrative orders, signed by Michael Forbeck, DEP regional
manager for waste management, ordered the closing and revoked the
permits for Allan's Waste Water Service Inc., and Tri-County Waste
Water Service. The two businesses share an address in Waynesburg and
share the same corporate officers, Robert Allan Shipman and Carolyn
Shipman, his wife.
The grand jury recommended 175 criminal charges for illegal dumping
against Mr. Shipman and his hauling business, which operated at least
16 tanker trucks and brought in $7 million a year.
The hauling service is the main customer for Tri-County, a wastewater
treatment facility that has operated since 2007 and lists Mrs. Shipman
as president and Mr. Shipman as secretary.
It was not named in the grand jury presentment, but the DEP suspended
its operating permit because Mr. Shipman is, according to the order,
directly involved in the day-to-day operations of both businesses.
"Those who violate the laws of the commonwealth and put our environment
at risk are in jeopardy of losing their DEP permits," said Katy Gresh,
a DEP spokeswoman.
One of the order's findings notes that the permit suspension is
justified because Mr. Shipman has "shown a lack of ability or intention
to comply" with provisions of the Clean Streams Law and the Solid Waste
Management Act.
Neither Mr. Shipman nor his wife returned a call to their home
requesting comment. Christopher Capozzi, attorney for Allan's Waste
Water Service but not Tri-County, declined to comment.
The grand jury found that from 2003 to 2009, Mr. Shipman directed the
illegal dumping of contaminated wastewater collected from Marcellus
Shale and shallow gas wells, municipal sewage treatment plants and
restaurants. The liquid waste was dumped on the ground or into streams,
sometimes after dark or during heavy rain storms to mask the illegal
activity.
A preliminary hearing for Mr. Shipman on the grand jury charges is
scheduled for June 6 and 7.
Don Hopey: dhopey@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1983.