Ohio Dem Wants Feds to Investigate Injection Wells

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Here’s a new twist on the “fracking contaminates ground water supplies” argument that MDN has not seen before…

An Ohio Democrat state representative is set to introduce a resolution that if passed, would empower the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether or not injection wells are contaminating ground water supplies. Injection wells dispose of wastewater from oil and gas drilling, along with wastewater from other industrial operations, in deep underground rock formations by “injecting” or pumping it under high pressure.

This is the first time MDN has heard of the allegation that injection wells are leaking up into ground water supplies and suspects this is yet another fishing trip by anti-drillers.

State Rep. Bob Hagan, D-Youngstown, announced on Friday that he will introduce a resolution in the Ohio Legislature calling for a federal investigation into ground water contamination from oil and gas injection wells.

The resolution, expected to be introduced in the next few weeks, is seeking a study by the Government Accountability Office on the environmental impacts of the injection wells.

Such a request must be approved by Congress before it can proceed.

The GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, last looked at the issue in 1989, Hagan said in a letter to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Ohio has 176 wells and more are planned.They take briny wastewater from natural gas and oil wells. They also take fracking liquids. The waste is then injected under pressure inbto underground rock formations.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says injection wells are a safe disposal method.*

When the left doesn’t like the answers it gets from state government (like the ODNR, that says injection wells are safe), their favorite tactic is to call in the feds. It’s doubtful this initiative will go anywhere.

*The Akron Beacon Journal (May 13, 2012) – Hagan wants federal investigation of injection wells