Charges Filed Against Former Sebring Water Operator

Sebring, Ohio —Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director Craig W. Butler have filed a criminal complaint against the former operator of the village of Sebring’s public water system for failing to promptly notify citizens about the results of water samples tested last year.

James V. Bates, of Salem, is charged with three counts:

• Two counts of recklessly failing to provide timely notice of individual lead tap water results to affected consumers within 30 days of receiving lab results (an unclassified misdemeanor); and
• One count of recklessly failing to provide timely system-wide public education within 60 days of the end of the lead and copper monitoring period (an unclassified misdemeanor).

The charges were filed today in municipal court in Sebring (Mahoning County Court No. 3).

Bates was the operator of record for the village of Sebring’s public water system in 2015, when the system conducted its lead and copper sampling tests, required every three years. All residents whose tap water was tested for lead were required to receive timely notification of the test results, whether or not the results showed elevated levels of lead. Some of the tests revealed elevated lead levels, which triggered required notice to the public. The state alleges that Bates failed to provide both types of notices within the required timeframes, in violation of Ohio’s safe drinking water laws.

Today’s complaint was filed by the Attorney General at the request of the Ohio EPA.
A copy of the complaint and an affidavit from an Ohio EPA investigator are available on the Ohio Attorney General's website.

Image via Shutterstock