Milford Man Indicted for Environmental Violations at Unlicensed Waste Facilities

(BATAVIA, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today announced the indictment of a Milford man accused of several environmental violations at two illegal waste facilities in Clermont County.  

Donald Combs, 52, was indicted on 12 charges, including illegal open dumping or burning, illegal operation of a solid waste facility without a license and illegally causing or allowing air pollution. He pleaded not guilty to the charges today at his arraignment in Clermont County Common Pleas Court.

Combs allegedly operated unlicensed waste facilities at 1779 Parker Road and 1503 State Route 28 in Goshen Township from May 2017 to February 2020. Combs’ waste hauling business allegedly dumped solid waste and construction and demolition debris at both sites, allowing large piles to accumulate.

In March 2018, the Goshen Township Fire Department was called to the Parker Road site after Combs allegedly set fire to solid waste materials, polluting the air of a residential neighborhood. Combs also is accused of illegally storing more than 100 scrap tires at the property.   

In response to a complaint from neighborhood residents, agents from Yost’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Environmental Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at the Parker Road location in April 2018.

Yost’s office investigated the case in partnership with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Special Investigations Unit and the Goshen Township Fire Department. Attorneys from Yost’s Environmental Enforcement Section are prosecuting the case.

The charges against Combs include:

  • Illegal open dumping or burning – 5 counts
  • Illegal operation of a solid waste facility without a license – 2 counts
  • Illegal operation of a construction and demolition debris facility without a license – 2 counts
  • Illegal outside storage of scrap tires – 2 counts
  • Illegally causing or allowing air pollution – 1 count