CINCINNATI — Duke Energy Beckjord LLC is set to plead guilty to a federal Clean Water Act violation after negligently discharging approximately 9,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the Ohio River in 2014. The spill, which fouled 15 miles of river and forced the shutdown of multiple public water intakes, stems from a cascade of operational failures at the company’s Walter C. Beckjord generating station in New Richmond, Ohio.
According to a plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court, a Duke Energy operator overfilled two 30,000-gallon above-ground fuel tanks while transferring diesel from larger storage units. The overflow spilled into a concrete containment area, but a valve had been left open by other Duke employees—allowing the fuel to bypass containment and pour directly into the river. The incident occurred on August 18, 2014, and triggered a regional emergency response.
The Ohio River serves as a drinking water source for hundreds of thousands in Kentucky and Ohio. On August 19, 2014, water supply intakes in Northern Kentucky, Greater Cincinnati, and Louisville were shut down. Though tests the following day showed no diesel contamination, the scare exposed critical vulnerabilities in industrial oversight. At least 35 government and private agencies responded to the spill, with cleanup efforts recovering only a fraction of the spilled fuel.
Under the terms of the plea, Duke Energy Beckjord LLC will pay a $1 million criminal fine and has already reimbursed over $1.2 million to agencies for response costs. The company has since dismantled the bulk fuel storage tanks involved and no longer stores large quantities of fuel at the Beckjord facility. Additionally, Duke Energy will pay $100,000 to the Foundation for Ohio River Education and issue a public apology in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“This case underscores the need for companies to have proper measures in place to prevent and respond to fuel spills so they don’t impact our water resources,” said John K. Gauthier, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. “Had Duke Beckjord, LLC taken measures to ensure that valves were closed to contain fuel spills, this incident would not have occurred. Their lack of these measures resulted in a large fuel spill to the Ohio River which required substantial environmental response efforts.”
U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman vowed continued scrutiny of environmental crimes: “We will continue to take environmental violations seriously to ensure the safest living conditions for the residents of our District.” Ohio EPA Director Craig W. Butler added, “Simply following required procedures would have prevented this incident. Today’s announcement should be a call to action for everyone along the river to be diligent about protecting this vital resource—the Ohio River.”
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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