ERIE, Pa. – A Venango County man was sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay over $236,000 in restitution after admitting to falsifying reports related to oil well plugging, a scheme that jeopardized the safety of drinking water sources in Pennsylvania. Ronald A. Wright, 45, of Pleasantville, received a six-month jail sentence, followed by a year of home detention and three years of supervised release on December 22, 2014, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The investigation, led by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) criminal enforcement program, revealed that between September 2009 and April 2011, Wright knowingly submitted false certificates of well plugging. These documents claimed he had properly sealed abandoned oil wells, a crucial step in ensuring the safety and integrity of nearby Class II injection wells. These injection wells are utilized for the disposal of oil production brine fluid and enhanced oil recovery processes.
The falsified certificates were relied upon by the EPA during the permitting process for the injection wells. Regulations mandate that all abandoned wells within a quarter-mile radius of a proposed injection well site must be adequately plugged before a permit can be issued. However, an EPA inspection in January 2012 uncovered a critical flaw: injected fluid was leaking into an improperly plugged abandoned well. Further scrutiny revealed a widespread pattern of deception, with Wright routinely underreporting the depth to which wells were actually plugged – in some instances claiming depths exceeding 2,000 feet when the actual plugging occurred at less than 1,000 feet.
The implications of Wright’s fraud are significant. The EPA estimates that the discovery of his falsified reports necessitated the re-inspection of 95 wells, and will likely require costly re-drilling and re-plugging operations to ensure the protection of groundwater resources. The financial burden of these corrective measures falls upon those impacted by the compromised well integrity, and is reflected in the $236,524.73 restitution order.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Ronald A. Wright, 45, of Pleasantville, PA
- Crime: Falsifying well plugging reports under the Safe Drinking Water Act
- Statutes Violated: Safe Drinking Water Act, Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code, specifically 18 U.S.C. 1001 (making false statements)
- Sentence: 6 months imprisonment, 12 months home detention, 3 years supervised release, $236,524.73 restitution
- Timeline: Fraud occurred between September 2009 and April 2011. Wright pled guilty on August 25, 2014, and was sentenced on December 22, 2014.
- Impact: Compromised the integrity of 95 wells and required costly re-inspection and re-plugging.
“EPA’s mission of protecting human health and the environment is dependent, in large part, on the veracity of the information it receives,” stated David G. McLeod, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in the Middle Atlantic States. “Today’s sentencing should send a strong message that EPA and its partners will hold those accountable, who knowingly submit false reports and undermine our efforts to protect human health and the environment.” The case underscores the agency’s commitment to vigorously pursuing criminal violations that threaten the nation’s water resources.
The investigation highlights the critical role accurate reporting plays in environmental regulation and the severe consequences faced by individuals who attempt to circumvent these safeguards. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for those involved in the oil and gas industry, emphasizing the importance of compliance with environmental laws and the potential for criminal penalties for fraudulent activity.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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