Ohio Judge Rules Against Austin Master Services for $6.2 Million

One of the significant stories of 2024 in the Ohio Utica was about Austin Master Services (AMS), a radiological waste management solutions company in Martins Ferry, Ohio, that processes and transports fracking waste for disposal. AMS ran into trouble when it ran out of money. The Martins Ferry facility in Belmont County, where waste is temporarily stored, had vastly exceeded its permitted limit of 600 tons (storing over 10,000 tons), resulting in a permit violation. The Ohio Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit against the company in March 2024 to compel compliance and require cleanup of the facility. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) stepped in to handle the cleanup. As of May 2025, cleaning and testing were completed (see Austin Master Services Ohio Frack Waste Cleanup Complete Today). The AG's office sued for $6 million to cover the cost of cleanup (see ODNR Seeks $6M from Austin Master Services to Cover Cleanup Costs). Last week, a Belmont County court ruled in favor of the state.

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