Mark Ventresca, Clean Water Act Violation, Pennsylvania 2016

Lake City, PA – Former wastewater treatment plant operator Mark Ventresca, 52, was sentenced to six months incarceration on November 21, 2016, following a guilty plea to a Clean Water Act violation. The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and pursued through the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, revealed a systematic effort by Ventresca to falsify data reported to state environmental regulators.

From December 2008 to December 2012, while employed as operator of the Lake City Borough Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ventresca allegedly submitted false Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). These reports were designed to demonstrate compliance with the plant’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which governs the discharge of treated wastewater into Elk Creek – a waterway that eventually flows into Lake Erie.

The investigation uncovered a pattern of negligence and deliberate deception. According to court documents, Ventresca failed to properly treat wastewater by neglecting to use adequate chemical reagents for disinfection. He also routinely skipped required water sampling procedures for key pollutants, including pH, dissolved oxygen, total residual chlorine, fecal coliform, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids. When samples weren’t taken, Ventresca allegedly fabricated the results and submitted them on the DMRs. He also reportedly used an improper sampling method for phosphorus, substituting an 8-hour composite sample for the legally mandated 24-hour sample.

Discrepancies were first flagged by the Erie County Health Department during inspections in August 2012 and January 2013, which revealed inconsistencies between Ventresca’s reported results and those obtained by an independent laboratory. This prompted a referral to PADEP, which in turn initiated a criminal investigation leading to EPA involvement. The falsified reports concealed the plant’s failure to meet permitted discharge levels, potentially impacting the water quality of Elk Creek and, ultimately, Lake Erie. Presque Isle State Park and its swimming beaches are located approximately six miles downstream from the plant’s outflow.

As a result of the violations, PADEP issued a Consent Order and Agreement (CO&A) to Ventresca, requiring him to surrender his wastewater operator’s license and resign from his position at the plant, actions he took on March 25, 2014. However, the EPA pursued criminal charges, culminating in the guilty plea and subsequent sentencing. The case highlights the serious consequences of falsifying environmental data and underscores the EPA’s commitment to enforcing the Clean Water Act.

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Key Facts

Defendant: Mark Ventresca, 52
Location: Lake City, Pennsylvania
Crime: Violations of the Clean Water Act through falsified reporting.
Statute Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4)
Timeframe of Offense: December 2008 – December 2012
Sentence: 6 months incarceration
Impact: Potential water quality degradation of Elk Creek and Lake Erie

Ventresca’s actions represent a breach of public trust and a disregard for environmental regulations designed to protect vital water resources. The Clean Water Act aims to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters. Violations of 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(4) can carry significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment, as demonstrated in this case. GrimyTimes will continue to follow developments in environmental crime cases and report on efforts to hold polluters accountable.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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