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HARRISBURG -- Two western Pennsylvania companies are facing criminal charges for allegedly storing and disposing of hazardous waste improperly at a Beaver County facility, resulting in a multimillion-dollar cleanup.
Attorney General Dave Sunday said One Brewery Place Inc. and M. Ultra Investment Group LTD were charged this week with a felony count related to the unlawful management of hazardous waste, along with multiple misdemeanor offenses.
According to investigators, the companies stored chemicals for years at a former Pool Doctor facility in Rochester. Authorities said the materials eventually became hazardous waste, posing safety risks to nearby residents and potential contamination to the Ohio River.
Officials allege the companies failed to properly manage and dispose of the chemicals and did not obtain required permits for storage or disposal.
The cleanup effort, which involved removing and safely disposing of the materials, cost more than $2.4 million, officials said.
"For years, these businesses willfully ignored potential dangers associated with the storage of these chemicals, putting a community at risk and ultimately burdening taxpayers," Sunday said in a statement.
The investigation began in early 2019 after the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection received a complaint about a strong chemical odor at the site. Authorities later found the building's roof had partially collapsed, allowing rainwater to mix with stored chemicals.
Officials also cited concerns about runoff reaching the nearby Ohio River. During cleanup operations, two chemical fires occurred, prompting shelter-in-place orders in Rochester.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 30. The case is being prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Section.
Charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.