Lake City, PA – A former wastewater treatment plant operator has been sentenced to federal prison for falsifying water quality reports, jeopardizing public health and violating the Clean Water Act. Mark Ventresca, 52, pleaded guilty in November 2016 and was sentenced to six months incarceration on November 21, 2016, by U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone. The case highlights a disturbing pattern of negligence and deceit at the Lake City Borough Wastewater Treatment Plant in Erie County, Pennsylvania.
From December 2008 to December 2012, while employed as the Plant operator, Ventresca systematically submitted false information on Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). These reports are crucial for ensuring compliance with the Plant’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which governs the discharge of wastewater into Elk Creek – a waterway that eventually flows into Lake Erie.
The investigation, initiated after discrepancies were flagged during routine inspections by the Erie County Health Department, revealed a shocking disregard for environmental regulations. Ventresca allegedly failed to properly disinfect wastewater by adding adequate chemical reagents, and routinely skipped required water testing for key pollutants like pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and Total Residual Chlorine (TRC). When tests weren’t performed, he simply fabricated the results, submitting them to PADEP as if they were legitimate. He also falsified lab results for phosphorus, fecal coliform, and Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and used improper sampling methods.
The falsified reports concealed the Plant’s failure to meet legally mandated discharge limits for pollutants. These limits are designed to protect aquatic life, recreational use of the water, and the health of downstream communities. Presque Isle State Park and swimming beaches are located approximately six miles downstream from the plant’s outfall, placing the public at potential risk from the contaminated effluent. The EPA’s involvement stemmed from a criminal referral made by PADEP after their own inquiry uncovered the falsified data.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Mark Ventresca, 52
- Location: Lake City Borough Wastewater Treatment Plant, Erie County, Pennsylvania
- Dates of Violation: December 2008 – December 2012
- Statutes Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4) – Clean Water Act
- Permit: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit
- Waterway Impacted: Elk Creek and Lake Erie
- Sentence: 6 months incarceration
Ventresca surrendered his wastewater operator’s license and resigned from his position in March 2014 after signing a Consent Order and Agreement (CO&A) with PADEP. However, the federal prosecution underscores the severity of his crimes and the EPA’s commitment to enforcing the Clean Water Act. The case serves as a stark reminder that manipulating environmental data is not only illegal but also poses a significant threat to public health and the environment. The maximum penalty for violating Section 1319(c)(4) of the Clean Water Act is a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment for not more than three years, or both. Ventresca received a sentence at the higher end of the potential incarceration range.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments. This incident raises questions about oversight and accountability within wastewater treatment facilities and the need for robust monitoring systems to prevent similar violations in the future.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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