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Originally published July 31, 2024
BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – The CEO of a local facility reportedly housing approximately 13,000 tons of radioactive waste avoided a jail sentence Monday by posting a reduced bond.
Brad Domitrovitsch, owner of Austin Master Services, also called AMS, in Martins Ferry, faced a possible jail sentence if he and his company did not pay a hefty $1.2 million bond for contempt of court in failing to clean up the toxic waste at the facility.
Domitrovitsch, Austin Master Services, and its parent company, American Environmental Partners Inc., appealed the ruling. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost brought a case against these parties.
However, Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra reduced Domitrovitsch’s bond from $1.2 million to $25,000 on July 25.
Domitrovitsch had a July 29 deadline to pay the bond or report to jail. He paid the bond on its due date.
The Martins Ferry Austin Master Services facility reportedly contained 13,000 tons of solid waste materials, some of which were radioactive, according to previous court documents.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources stated it would begin cleanup of Austin Master on July 23, but area environmental leaders question how such a facility was even allowed to operate in the community.
Bev Reed of Concerned Ohio River Residents (CORR) says the facility is within a few feet of the Ohio River and 5 million people drink water sourced from the river each day. They say spring floods this breached Austin Master’s building, but government response to the flooding was slow.
ODNR didn’t take immediate action on the flooding.
Bev Reed, Concerned Ohio River Residents
Reed explained that oil field waste, some of it radioactive, was stored at the Austin Master facility.
Stay with River News Network online and on Facebook for updates on this developing story.