Sewage Plant Operators Charged

Sewage treatment plant operators in Elk and Clearfield counties have been charged with environmental crimes.State Attorney General Tom Corbett says 49-year-old John Forster of Penfield and 55-year-old Donald Rucinski of Weedville submitted 1,497 falsified test results on monthly reports submitted to DEP between January 2006 and October 2007.
Forster served as operator of the Huston Township Sewer Authority Wastewater Treatment Plant in Clearfield County, and also served as a back up operator for the Jay Township Municipal Authority Wastewater Treatment plant in Elk County. Rucinski served as the operator of the Jay Township plant.

According to the criminal complaint, DEP inspectors determined that the laboratory at the Jay Township plant had only purchased 50% of the supplies necessary to perform certain tests, and had only purchased 25% of the supplies necessary for other testing. Additionally, Corbett said that DEP inspectors determined that nearly every result for fecal coliform conducted at the laboratory was false. Those tests are used to determine if the discharge from the plants has been potentially contaminated by human waste.

Both men have been arraigned, and are free on $5,000 bail each.