Athens County Commissioners pass resolution supporting injection well ban

Posted in Athens Messenger, April 25, 2013 4:15 am | Updated: 11:21 pm, Thu Apr 25, 2013. By STEVE ROBB Messenger staff journalist

The Athens County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to support proposed state legislation that would ban disposal of fracking waste in injection wells.

The commissioners voted to signed on to a letter being circulated that voices support for legislation being proposed by State Reps. Denise Driehaus and Robert Hagan and State Senator Michael Skindell. The letter is addressed to the three Democratic legislators.

A spokeswoman for Driehaus said that legislation banning disposal of fracking waste in injection wells is slated to be introduced in the Ohio House on Tuesday, with Driehaus and Hagan as co-sponsors. She said Skindell is expected to introduce companion legislation in the Ohio Senate.

The letter cites environmental concerns about the chemicals used in fracking oil and gas wells, as well as toxic underground substances that are brought to the surface by the fracking process.

“Allowing Ohio to become a dumping ground for the waste resulting from hydraulic fracturing will leave a toxic legacy for generations of Ohioans,” the letter states. “We urge you to protect Ohioans from the flood of oil and gas industry waste and to sponsor legislation to ban the underground injection, discharge and surface spreading of liquid waste resulting from hydraulic fracturing.” More…