Cincinnati, OH – Ronald A. Korman, owner of Barrel and Drum Service, Inc., was sentenced in November 2002 following a guilty plea to knowingly violating the Clean Water Act (CWA). The case, investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), revealed a pattern of illegal dumping and falsified reporting that threatened the Cincinnati Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) infrastructure and potentially public health.
According to court documents, Korman directed Barrel and Drum Service, Inc. to regularly discharge untreated, highly caustic wastewater directly into the city’s sewer system beginning in 1995. This activity occurred without obtaining the necessary permits required by the CWA, demonstrating a deliberate disregard for environmental regulations. The company operated out of a facility in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The scheme was further compounded by the submission of false semi-annual reports to the MSD. These reports falsely claimed that Barrel and Drum was not discharging unallowed wastes, effectively concealing the ongoing pollution from authorities for years. The deception was ultimately uncovered in February 2001 when MSD employees detected alarmingly high pH levels – peaking at a dangerous 13 – within the sewer system. Trace analysis led investigators directly to the Barrel and Drum facility as the source.
The discharge of such highly caustic wastewater poses significant risks to municipal sewage treatment plants. The extreme pH levels can corrode and damage sensitive equipment, disrupt the biological processes reliant on beneficial bacteria for effective sewage treatment, and potentially lead to system failures. Such failures could result in untreated sewage being released into local waterways, creating a serious environmental hazard.
Korman was formally charged on June 18, 2002, with violating 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) of the Clean Water Act, specifically the provision prohibiting the knowing violation of effluent limitations. He subsequently pled guilty on August 3, 2002. At sentencing on November 21, 2002, Korman received a sentence of four months and one day of incarceration, alongside a requirement to complete 40 hours of community service and pay a $100 special assessment fee. Notably, no monetary fine was imposed.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Ronald A. Korman, owner of Barrel and Drum Service, Inc.
- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Crime: Illegal discharge of caustic wastewater into public sewer system and falsification of reports.
- Statute Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) – Clean Water Act
- Timeline: Illegal dumping occurred from 1995-2001; charged 2002; sentenced 2002.
- Penalty: 4 months and 1 day incarceration, 40 hours community service, $100 assessment.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the EPA’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and holding individuals accountable for actions that endanger public infrastructure and the environment. While the sentence may seem lenient to some, it underscores the complexities of environmental crime prosecution and the challenges of balancing punishment with remediation efforts.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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