Two Companies Charged for Illegal Hazardous Waste Storage and Disposal

Detected March 25th, 2026

Summary

The Pennsylvania Attorney General announced criminal charges against One Brewery Place, Inc. and M. Ultra Investment Group, LTD for unlawfully storing and disposing of hazardous waste in Beaver County. The companies allegedly failed to obtain permits and manage chemicals properly, leading to significant cleanup costs and safety risks.

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What changed

The Pennsylvania Attorney General has filed felony and misdemeanor charges against One Brewery Place, Inc. (OBP) and M. Ultra Investment Group, LTD for the illegal storage and disposal of hazardous waste at a facility in Beaver County. The companies are accused of failing to obtain necessary permits and manage hazardous chemicals, which posed risks to local residents and the Ohio River, and resulted in cleanup costs exceeding $2.4 million. The charges include a felony for management of hazardous waste and several related misdemeanors.

Regulated entities, particularly those involved in chemical storage or disposal, should be aware of this enforcement action and the potential for severe penalties for non-compliance with hazardous waste management regulations. Companies must ensure they have obtained all required permits and are adhering to proper storage and disposal protocols. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 30, indicating ongoing legal proceedings. Failure to comply can result in significant cleanup costs, fines, and criminal charges.

What to do next

Review hazardous waste storage and disposal permits and protocols.
Ensure compliance with all applicable environmental regulations regarding chemical management.
Consult legal counsel regarding potential liabilities for past non-compliance.

Penalties

Felony and misdemeanor charges filed; cleanup costs exceeded $2.4 million.

Source document (simplified)

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Sunday announced that two companies have been charged for unlawfully storing and disposing hazardous waste from a facility in Beaver County.

The companies — One Brewery Place, Inc. (OBP) and M. Ultra Investment Group, LTD (M. Ultra) — were charged this week with a felony regarding management of hazardous waste and several related misdemeanors.

For many years, chemicals related to company work projects were stored at the Pool Doctor facility on New York Avenue in Rochester, Beaver County. The chemicals eventually became hazardous waste and posed significant safety risks to residents of Rochester and contamination risks for the nearby Ohio River.

The companies failed to fulfill their legal obligations to properly manage and dispose of numerous hazardous chemicals and did not obtain the required permits related to the storage or disposal of those materials.

In all, cleanup efforts to remove and safely dispose of the chemicals cost more than $2.4 million.

“For years, these businesses willfully ignored potential dangers associated with the storage of these chemicals, putting a community at risk, and ultimately burdening taxpayers with a mammoth bill related to cleanup efforts,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Every Pennsylvanian has a right to clean water and air, and the conduct involved here threatened those rights.”

According to the investigation, in early 2019, DEP received a tip about a strong chemical odor coming from the facility. Further investigation revealed a partially collapsed roof that allowed rainwater to mix with the chemicals. The facility was also on the Ohio River and there was concern that run-off could contaminate the river. During cleanup efforts, two separate chemical fires occurred, prompting shelter-in-place orders to be issued for the Borough of Rochester.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 30.

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Shane T. Crevar of the Environmental Crimes Section. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.