OPEA ignored Ohio law, Patriot, Warren plant claim

Staff report

WARREN

Patriot Water Treatment LLC and Warren’s waste-water treatment plant on Monday snapped back at claims made by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, claiming the agency knowingly ignored Ohio law when it issued permits involving Patriot and Warren in 2010.

“The state makes extraordinary claims, without corroborated evidence, that accuses its own client, Ohio EPA, and former Governor [Ted] Strickland’s administration of knowingly engaging in illegal activity and misconduct.”

“The state has actually accused its own client, Ohio EPA, of knowingly violating the law,” said Tom Angelo, director of the treatment plant. “If that is true, why are the individuals involved, including several members of Ohio EPA management, still in their jobs?”

Patriot and Warren responded to a Feb. 13 filing by the Ohio attorney general’s office via a document filed with the Environmental Review Appeals Commission, which hears and resolves environmental appeals.

Patriot, Warren, OEPA and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources have battled for months regarding the permitting of Patriot’s facility.

Patriot treats low-salinity brine, a byproduct of natural-gas and oil fracking.

It is the only brine- wastewater treatment plant in Ohio.