Oregon, Ohio – Former Envirosafe Services of Ohio employee, Steven Jacob, was sentenced in March 2009 following a case stemming from years of neglect and falsification of records at the state’s only hazardous waste landfill. The case, investigated by Ohio environmental authorities, revealed a pattern of Jacob’s failure to properly manage leachate – a highly contaminated liquid formed when water filters through waste – potentially endangering both the environment and public health.
Envirosafe Services, located in Oregon, operates the sole hazardous waste landfill in the state of Ohio. Crucially, maintaining consistent removal of accumulated leachate is paramount to preventing environmental contamination. According to investigators, Jacob, an employee responsible for leachate management, consistently failed to adhere to this critical protocol. Records indicated a significant lapse in proper removal procedures, with *no* leachate being removed from November 2006 through April 2007 – a period of six months.
Timeline of Events
The investigation began to gain traction in October 2008 when Jacob was formally charged with a violation of state environmental regulations, specifically Ohio Revised Code 3734.11. He initially entered a plea of not guilty. However, the case took a turn in March 2009 when the charge under Ohio Revised Code 3734.11 was dropped. Jacob then entered a plea of no contest to a charge of falsification under Ohio Revised Code 2921.13(A)(3) & (F)(1). This suggests authorities discovered evidence that Jacob had not only neglected his duties but also misrepresented the amount of leachate removed in official reports.
The extent of the mismanagement became strikingly clear after Jacob’s termination from Envirosafe. Subsequent leachate removal conducted *after* he left the company revealed levels drastically exceeding permitted limits. In fact, the amount of contaminants removed was reportedly over 100 times greater than what Jacob had reported during his final removal prior to his dismissal. This discrepancy strongly suggested a deliberate effort to conceal the true state of the landfill’s leachate collection system.
Legal Consequences
The court handed down a sentence of 20 days incarceration, coupled with a 12-month probation period. Jacob was also ordered to complete 50 hours of community service. Notably, no financial fine was imposed. The relatively light sentence has drawn some criticism, given the potential severity of environmental damage that could have resulted from the prolonged mismanagement of hazardous waste. Environmental watchdogs suggest that stricter penalties are needed to deter similar offenses in the future.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Steven Jacob
- Location: Envirosafe Services of Ohio, Oregon, Ohio
- Statutes Violated: Ohio Revised Code 3734.11 (originally), Ohio Revised Code 2921.13(A)(3) & (F)(1) (pleaded to)
- Timeline of Neglect: No leachate removal from November 2006 – April 2007
- Post-Employment Discovery: Leachate levels exceeded permitted limits by over 100x what was reported by Jacob.
- Sentence: 20 days incarceration, 12 months probation, 50 hours community service.
GrimyTimes will continue to follow developments related to Envirosafe Services of Ohio and any potential ongoing investigations into environmental compliance at the facility.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
Related Federal Cases
- Steven Jacob, Environmental Crime, OH 2009 · New York
- Robert H. Block, Jr., Environmental Crime, OR 2012 · Arizona
- David Sanders, Environmental Fraud, OR 2015 · Oregon
- Chemtrade Logistics, Chemtrade Refinery Services, and Marsulex Fine… · Florida
- Live Nation/Ticketmaster Rejected DOJ Settlement, New York NY, 2023 · Wisconsin
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime