WARREN - A business owner from Maryland faces criminal dumping charges in connection with tons of steel-making byproduct that authorities say could be highly explosive.

The material, or grindings known as ''swarf,'' were sitting inside the former United Refractory plant off state Route 45, behind a McDonald's restaurant in Champion.

But Deputy Harold Firster, a special environmental inspector, said the plant that once made fire resistant brick linings for steel mills recently was taken apart for scrap steel. Leaks and, in some locations, the lack of roofing or siding has exposed the 8,000 to 10,000 tons of debris to rainwater and created a potentially volatile combination, Firster said.

''Along with (swarf) are several other materials which include calcium carbide, which when mixed with water forms acetylene gas and also magnesium which, when exposed to air, is extremely flammable. The other issue is that when exposed to water, swarf can emit hydrogen sulfide gas, along with possible contamination to (water),'' Firster's report states.

Firster on Tuesday filed unclassified felony charges of open dumping and failure to comply with a Health Department order on Edgar Knieriem, also known as Ed Kane, in Warren Municipal Court. The charges are punishable of between two to four years in prison and fines of between $10,000 and $25,000.

Kane, believed to be in Maryland, has been storing the byproduct at the site since 1993 after charging East Coast manufacturers to dispose of the material, Firster said. He could not be reached for comment.

''He intended to recycle the product, but that never panned out,'' Firster said. ''We could extradite him to face the charges.''

Greg Kovalchick of the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste District estimates cleanup costs of what's now viewed as open dumping, could cost $600,000.

Deputies have talked with Kane previously and he led them to believe a cleanup was under way. He told a sheriff's detective he was an attorney from Maryland, but the detective said Kane, who operates under the name Diversified Resources, 400 Refractory Drive, has not practiced law in years.

A letter in May of 2008 from the Trumbull Health Department to Kane asks him for results of tests he was conducting for the reuse potential of the material. If not recycled, the letter asks for a removal plan by May 30, 2008. The letter mentions Kane has ignored similar letters in January and April of 2008.

Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Adler said in addition to accusations against Kane, the former United Refractory property now owned by Von Vittersan-Lecopla, USA, LLC, in Dover, Del., is $160,000 in arrears on county property taxes.

Champion Trustee Chairman Thomas Tracey said he has not received any calls from residents about the property or anything taking place there. He noted that the area is located in a more commercial district behind a small mall with mainly businesses. Tracey said there is one house and a small apartment complex located behind the mall.

He said a residential area is a about a quarter of mile north of the area off Mahoning Avenue.

Don Waldron, chief of the Trumbull County HAZMAT, said with the investigation ongoing and he likely to have information and documentation he compiled on the inspection of the property needed for any further court action regarding the matter declined to comment on specifics pertaining to the inspection.

Waldron said he and others have received the specialized and needed training when investigating any situation where there may be hazardous products involved or being dumped.

He and other agencies have done inspections at the location to evaluate the situation.

Champion Fire Chief John Hickey said the township fire department did assist other agencies with the inspection at the location just as it would with any similar situation for the safety of the residents.

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