BREAKING NEWS | 3rd person charged with dumping drilling waste in Mahoning River

A third person has been criminally charged for discharging brine and wastewater related to oil and gas well drilling into the Mahoning River, law enforcement officials announced.

Mark A. Goff, 46, of Newton Falls, was charged with one count of making an unpermitted discharge in violation of the Clean Water Act.

The conduct took place between Oct. 1, 2012, and Nov. 12, 2012, according to the information.

The filing of the criminal information was announced today by Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, James Zehringer, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Craig W. Butler, director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and Randall K. Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. EPA.

According to documents, Ben Lupo, owner of Hardrock Excavating LLC, orders Goff, a company employee, to empty waste liquid into a nearby wastewater drain on Oct. 1, 2012.

Lupo has pleaded guilty to violation of the Clean Water Act and awaits sentencing. Another Hardrock employee Michael Guesman, pleaded guilty to violating that same act, was sentenced to three years' probation and 300 hours of community service.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com