The State Attorney General’s Office has filed charges against two companies for allegedly unlawfully storing and disposing hazardous waste from a facility in Beaver County.
One Brewery Place, Inc. and M. Ultra Investment Group were charged this week with a felony regarding management of hazardous waste and several related misdemeanors.
Authorities said chemicals related to company work projects were stored at the Pool Doctor facility on New York Avenue in Rochester, Beaver County, for many years.
According to the investigation, in early 2019, DEP received a tip about a strong chemical odor coming from the facility. Further investigation revealed a partially collapsed roof that allowed rainwater to mix with the chemicals.
The chemicals eventually became hazardous waste and posed significant safety risks to residents of Rochester and contamination risks for the nearby Ohio River, authorities said.
The companies allegedly failed to fulfill their legal obligations to properly manage and dispose of numerous hazardous chemicals and did not obtain the required permits related to the storage or disposal of those materials.
Authorities said two separate chemical fires occurred during cleanup efforts, prompting shelter-in-place orders to be issued for Rochester.
Cleanup efforts to remove and safely dispose of the chemicals cost more than $2.4 million.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 30.