Washington County officials call for moratorium on Class II well injection

Officials from several communities in Washington County, Ohio are calling

for a three-year moratorium on injection oil/gas well waste into Class II

waste wells in their area. The concern is that drinking water in the area

may become contaminated with toxic and radioactive chemicals.

Representatives from Washington County water authorities at a recent press

conference

In 2021, according to state records wastewater brine migrated five miles

from its injection site triggering a blowout that cost the state $1.2 million to

contain.

The U.S. EPA reports that this oil/gas well wastewater can be radioactive

and can contain heavy metals that are toxic if ingested. The local officials

in Washington County outlined their concern in a letter to Governor

DeWine. DeWine’s office confirmed that they have received the letter, but

they had no comment on it.

Ohio has far more Class II injection wells than neighboring states.

Pennsylvania has 18 Class II wells, and West Virginia has 70. Ohio

currently has 232 Class II injection wells, and about 50% of the material

injected in Ohio comes from Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

According to the Buckeye Environmental Network (BEN), State Senator

Brian Chavez, who represents Washington County, has been accused by

his constituents of having a conflict of interest, as he has close ties to the

companies that are injecting wastewater in Class II wells in the county.

Chavez chairs the Ohio Senate Energy Committee. He has fast-tracked

legislation that could benefit the injection well industry and his family

business while weakening oversight of injection wells. An ethics complaint

has recently been filed against Chavez.

The Buckeye Environmental Network urges Ohio citizens to call their

representatives in the General Assembly to demand a moratorium on

injection wells in the state because they are being permitted too close to

drinking water sources.