CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A district court jury found a Wyoming County man guilty of violating the Clean Water Act for dumping untreated sewage into Little Huff Creek.
Mike Blankenship, 54, of Hanover, was convicted of two felony violations of the federal statute.
Blankenship owns Hanover Contracting Company, a porta-john and sewage business. According to U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart, a truck owned by Blankenship was seen dumping untreated sewage into Little Huff Creek. Agents with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection were able to take samples, which confirmed the presence of fecal matter.
Officials with the FBI, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Environmental Protection approached Blankenship, who admitted it was his sewage truck. He also admitted to dumping sewage at that site on other occasions.
Blankenship faces up to six years in prison, a $500,000 fine, supervised release for three years and a special $200 assessment. He will be sentenced Aug. 1.