Ohio’s government watchdog says an investigation shows some state transportation workers dumped contaminated dirt into a popular fishing destination in Ross County .
The report from Ohio Inspector General Randall Meyer says his office started an investigation after ODOT administrators reported the actions of some employees. Those workers reportedly took multiple truckloads of polluted dirt and debris taken from a jobsite near Tar Hallow State Forest and dumped them over a guard rail into Salt Creek, a federally-protected waterway.
The report says ODOT has spent more than $120,000 on cleanup costs and paid a $35,000 civil penalty to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The IG’s reports also state and federal prosecutors declined to press charges against the ODOT employees.
