DEP Shuts Two Firms in Dumping Case

[Divernan]

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.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11081/1133798-455.stm#ixzz1HK8EJSoB