A 73-year-old Ohio man will not serve any jail time after pleading guilty to dumping thousands of gallons of a hazardous, ammonia-containing substance into the Scioto River that ended up killing over 43,000 fish and endangering other wildlife.
On April 17, 2021, according to the Northern District of Ohio U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mark Shepherd discharged approximately 7,000 gallons of the hazardous substance into the river.
The hazardous substance, which flowed approximately 18 miles downstream from where he illegally dumped it, originated from Shepherd’s Ohio-based business facilities—Cessna Transport Inc. and A.G. Bradley Inc.—which he owned and operated, the U.S. Attorney’s Office notes.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 43,094 fish perished as a result of the hazardous substance in the water, including black bass, flathead catfish, sunfish, and minnows, which were collectively valued at more than $22,000.
Local fishermen in Hardin County originally reported the dead fish in the Scioto River, which the U.S. Attorney’s Office reports is routinely used for recreational fishing.
Other at-risk wildlife that are currently being monitored in the area include bald eagles, which use the Scioto River as a food source.
“Eagle breeding pairs are known to build nests near the river to feed on fish. The concern has roots in history which showed that fish from contaminated waterways can poison animals who consume it,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
While bald eagles are no longer listed as an endangered species, the species remains protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act which prohibits killing, selling, or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs.
Shepherd was sentenced to 12 months of probation, a $5,000 fine, and 150 hours of community service after he pled guilty to violating the Clean Water Act.
He was also ordered to pay $22,508.60 in restitution to the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Scioto River” by I, ChristopherM. CC BY-SA 3.0.
