A
really bad situation just got much worse, says groups: Out-of-state
company applies for three more fracking waste injection wells in
Brookfield, Ohio for a total of five potential injection wells in a
highly populated, man-made earthquake-prone region.
A
citizen rally opposing the proposed injection wells will take place on
the Brookfield village green on Thursday, October 12, 2017 starting at
5:45 PM to 7 PM.
[ event on
facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/139644563434935 ]
Groups
say the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) should immediately
deny the three new permit applications and revoke the two drilling
permits that ODNR had already issued because the proposed injection
wells are an imminent danger to public health, safety, and welfare.
Ohio, October 9, 2017 – A really bad situation just got much worse, according to
Frackfree America National Coalition, based in Youngtown, Ohio (FANC),
Buckeye Environmental Network (BEN), and the
Center for Health, Environment and Justice
(CHEJ) and concerned citizens in Brookfield who are continuing their
strong opposition to the placement of what they just learned is a total
of five proposed fracking waste injection wells to be located way too
near family homes, businesses, and government buildings in Brookfield,
Ohio.[1]
FANC’s, BEN’s, and CHEJ’s October 9, 2017 joint statement follows:
On September 28, 2017, Highland Field Services, a Seneca Resources
subsidiary, applied to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)
for three new permits for injection wells to be located in the same area
as the previous two wells in Brookfield, Ohio.[2]
Teresa
Mills of Buckeye Environmental Network has confirmed that there will be
another public comment period for the three new injection well permit
applications.
The groups say this proposed injection well
operation is not a done deal. They and concerned citizens are ramping
up their efforts to inform the public of why this massive injection well
operation must not be allowed by ODNR and why it is totally
unacceptable for ODNR and Seneca Resources to site what the groups
believe is a dangerous, risky operation in a populated location near
known areas of man-made seismic activity.
A citizen
rally opposing the proposed injection wells will take place on Thursday,
October 12, 2017 starting at 5:45 PM to 7 PM at the village green at
Brookfield Center, Brookfield Township, Ohio 44403. All media and the
public are urged to please attend.
Additional rallies or
meetings to oppose the injection wells are being planned to take place
in October and in the near future.
Groups say it is
astonishing that ODNR and Seneca would even consider siting these
injection wells in a highly populated area that is very near known
epicenters of man-made earthquakes related to injection wells or
fracking wells, including a now-famous magnitude 4.0 Youngstown man-made
quake that happened on December 31, 2011. That quake and others were
linked to the Northstar 1 injection well.[3]
The groups, FANC,
BEN, and CHEJ, believe the drilling and operation of the injection
wells pose an imminent danger to public health, safety, and welfare, and
therefore, ODNR should revoke the two drilling permits already issued,
and immediately deny the applications submitted by Seneca on September
28, 2017.
They hope Seneca will see the light, realize that
this is an extremely bad business decision, and withdraw their plans for
all five proposed injection wells so unbelievably and unacceptably
close to family homes.
The groups are also renewing their
call for immediate public meetings in Brookfield, Ohio with ODNR and
Seneca, both of whom seem to be resisting meeting with the public even
though these wells, if allowed to operate, will have profound effects
upon the region and residents’ quality of life, their property values
and rights, and public health and safety.
Although Highland
Field Services (subsidiary of Seneca Resources) wrote to the Brookfield
Township Trustees that they’re not opposed to participating in a public
forum, Highland prefers a private meeting with “elected officials only”
first.[4] ODNR apparently simply declined to meet with the public.
We insist that there should be no meeting about the proposed Brookfield
injection wells with “elected officials only” behind closed doors that
bars the public and media from attending.
[5]
This would be completely unacceptable and a disservice to the
Brookfield community and the entire region. Ohio Sunshine Laws apply.
[6]
The Brookfield Trustees are doing the right thing by requesting a
public meeting (which in a July 17, 2017 letter they requested to take
place in August, 2017), and we thank them for that. The public deserves a
high level of transparency and to be able to have a dialogue or
conversation with ODNR and Seneca that happens in real time, preferably
televised, where follow-up questions, objections, and comments can occur
in a public forum. An ODNR website posting inadequate answers to the
public’s comments or Seneca’s FAQ document is not good enough to keep
the public fully informed of what is being planned for their
neighborhood practically in some residents’ backyards.
Why won’t ODNR and Seneca meet with the public in Brookfield? They were asked to do so in July, 2017.
[7]
It’s now October. What are they afraid of? What might they be trying
to hide? To us, their behavior has the appearance of trying to unfairly
evade or avoid public scrutiny. Why would they do this?
Adding these three new wells to the first two injection wells that
already have drilling permits is going to add an unacceptable volume of
fracking waste (much of it coming from out-of-state) to be injected into
the ground. We believe this enormous volume of waste will increase the
risk of man-made earthquakes even more than just the first two wells
that may be injecting at the rate of around 300,000 barrels of fracking
waste per month.[8]
Science and common sense tell you that
having five injection wells injecting with pressure at the same time in
essentially the same place could pose very serious issues. If each of
the five wells injects the maximum of 10,000 barrels per day, it could
be that each well could inject at the rate of 300,000 barrels per
month. Amazingly, for all five wells, this would be one million five
hundred thousand barrels, which translates to 63 million gallons of
fracking waste injected per month under pressure. This is totally
unacceptable and unconscionable.
ODNR must not allow this
outrageous situation to happen. Isn’t this a recipe for potentially
causing man-made earthquakes, especially in a locality that is so close
to areas of known seismic activity?
This injection rate
may be highly problematic in light of an injection well study led by
Matthew Weingarten, “The scientists found that disposal wells were 1.5
times more likely to be associated with earthquakes, although the region
contains far more enhanced recovery wells. The link was strongest at
higher injection rates, above about 300,000 barrels per month.”[9]
There is that number again – 300,000 barrels.
According to a front-page article in the Vindicator, quoting Vienna,
Ohio Township Trustee Phil Pegg regarding the first two proposed
Brookfield wells,
"Pegg said one concern about the Highland
applications is that both wells call for injection of an average of
5,000 barrels per day of wastewater and a maximum of 10,000 barrels per
day. If both wells injected 10,000 barrels of wastewater per day, that
would be considerably more than the D&L Energy well on Ohio Works
Drive in Youngstown injected in the months leading to a 4.0-magnitude
earthquake attributed to the well in 2011. Vindicator archives indicate
the Northstar well was injecting about 2,000 barrels of waste per day
just before the earthquake.”[10]
In our opinion, injecting
this amount of waste and at such high pressure is dangerous and must
not be allowed, especially in an earthquake-prone region. It cannot
happen. ODNR and Seneca should know this, and they should know better
than to introduce this kind of unacceptable risk into this community and
earthquake-prone region.
According to the Dallas Morning
News (9/25/17) referring to a new study by Southern Methodist University
scientists including seismologist Heather DeShon who led the study:
“…
Until May 2015, earthquake magnitudes increased in step with injection
volumes, according to the study. To DeShon, that means turning off
individual wells is not likely to affect earthquake sizes or
rates. ‘From a mitigation standpoint, you need to start thinking in
terms of the cumulative history of injection in regions,’ she said.”
[11]
We already have other injection wells in our region,
for example, in Vienna, North Lima, Youngstown, and the Warren area
that have injected enormous amounts of waste. What are the possible
cumulative effects of having so much fluid waste injection in the
region?[12] What kinds of pressures may have built up already and could
be migrating?
Regulators cannot control or prevent
earthquakes with one hundred percent certainty. If they could, they
would have done so by now. For example, the numerous, damaging man-made
earthquakes in Oklahoma have not stopped, and lawsuits are being filed.
Increased seismic regulations and seismic monitoring are not working and
cannot work. Earthquakes are still happening. It is not known where all
of the faults are that might cause a quake if activated by injection or
fracking. In fact, it is usually an unknown fault that is associated
with many of the man-made quakes.[13]
We believe that it
is Brookfield’s and the region’s health, safety, private property values
and private property rights that will suffer and will be violated if
ODNR permits this huge injection well operation in this residential
area. There will be virtually no jobs or financial benefits for the
community associated with this proposed injection well operation. There
are only potential costs for neighborhood families and local
government.
It is our local economies that will take a
hit if a Vienna, Ohio-type spill or underground release of waste fluids
happens in Brookfield or other localities. What if there is a large
induced earthquake or water and air contamination? Who will pay for any
damage or clean-up if clean-up will even be possible? Many people in
Brookfield are concerned about their well water if the injection well
operation is allowed to proceed.
Road damage from heavy
injection well truck traffic can be substantial and expensive to
correct. Road agreements are not required for injection wells, as they
are for horizontal wells. According to The Athens Messenger, the county
engineer’s department estimated that repairs to their road due to
injection well truck traffic would cost $195,365.[14] Who will pay for
potential road damage in Brookfield? Most likely, if there is no prior
agreement worked out, the community and the taxpayers will be left with
the bill or a potential, big, long drawn out, expensive lawsuit for the
community to try to recover money for damages done. Of course, if ODNR
wisely chooses to deny and revoke the permits, this issue will be moot,
and that would be a good thing for the community.
At a
Brookfield Township Trustee meeting on October 2, 2017, Trumbull County
Emergency Management Agency Director Linda Beil addressed safety plans.
According to a WKBN - TV news report,
“Since Brookfield is a
township, their safety plan falls under the county EMA. But Linda Beil
with Trumbull EMA says, right now, no official emergency plan is in
place. ‘Normally that’s more of an ODNR,’ Beil said. ‘And then it also
comes down to the health department getting involved with that — with
the wells in the area.’ Beil says injection wells are a new concern for
them. … “.[15]
Injection wells are a new concern? This
reported, apparent lack of preparedness in itself should be enough for
ODNR to put this entire reckless and immoral injection well plan on hold
- at least.
We are not lawyers, but we believe this
injection well operation is not a legitimate business activity or land
use especially as it would be inappropriately located so near
residential family homes, which makes it abnormally dangerous or
ultra-hazardous. The site of the proposed operation is also close to
multiple epicenters of man-made earthquakes in the region due to
injection wells or fracking operations. The science of induced
seismicity is quickly evolving, and increasingly shows that too many
variables, such as where faults lie, are unknown. Earthquakes in the
magnitude 5.0 range are happening, or have happened, in or near Ohio or
in other states such as Oklahoma, whose largest quake that scientists
link to injection wells is a magnitude 5.7 (Prague, Oklahoma) and
possibly a magnitude 5.8 (The Pawnee quake - Oklahoma).
Therefore, it is irresponsible, reckless, and immoral for ODNR to
proceed as though it is a safe operation without the state or company
having to absolutely prove its alleged safety to health and the public.
This needs to be done before any drilling or injection begins. We
believe that waste injection is inherently unsafe.
Furthermore, we don’t think other types of businesses would be allowed
to operate in this area so close to family homes without fully
disclosing potentially dangerous chemicals being used on their site.
So, why is the oil and gas industry getting a pass over all other
businesses, especially in light of the fact that waste from oil and gas
is treated differently, legally, than waste from other industries?[16]
This is unfair to other businesses in addition to being unfair to human
beings.
Additionally, first responders must be given full
information about all of the chemicals used in the oil and gas
industry.[17] In the interest of protecting public health, safety, and
welfare, ODNR must revoke the already issued drilling permits and deny
the three new permit applications.
As many concerned
citizens have said regarding injection wells: We are not going away.
Ohio is not a toxic fracking waste dumping ground. We are not
expendable. No one is expendable. These are our family homes. Our
livelihoods have been invested in them. We have private property
rights, too. ODNR must halt this permitting process now in order to
protect the public health, safety, and well-being of Brookfield and the
entire region.
For more information or media inquiries, please see
www.frackfreeamerica.org
Email:
frackfreeamerica@gmail.com or call:
234-201-8007
For more information about the proposed Brookfield injection wells and
injection wells, man-made earthquakes, etc. please see:
Our
March 28th, 2017 comment to ODNR regarding the proposed Brookfield
injection wells, that discusses induced seismicity and other risks, can
be seen at:
http://www.buckeyeenvironmentalnetwork.org/news/2017/6/1/comment-to-odnr-re-brookfield-injection-wells-by-ben-chej-fanc
Our open letter can be seen at:
http://www.buckeyeenvironmentalnetwork.org/news/2017/7/4/openjoint-letter-re-brookfield-injection-wells
Please see a previous press release regarding injection wells and induced seismicity, etc. at:
http://frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com/2016/07/prayer-service-rally-july-12-2016.html
Please also see:
““Injection
Wells: The Poison Beneath Us: Lax oversight, uncertain science plague
program under which industries dump trillions of gallons of waste
underground,” by Abrahm Lustgarten, June 21, 2012, Propublica:
http://www.propublica.org/article/injection-wells-the-poison-beneath-us
# # #
Notes:
[1]
“Brookfield Residents Worry about 3 More Injection Wells,” by Dan
O’Brien, October 4, 2017, Youngstown Business Journal,
http://businessjournaldaily.com/brookfield-residents-worry-about-3-more-injection-wells/
[2]
“Brookfield Residents Worry about 3 More Injection Wells,” by Dan
O’Brien, October 4, 2017, Youngstown Business Journal,
http://businessjournaldaily.com/brookfield-residents-worry-about-3-more-injection-wells/
[3] “Earthquake Time Line,” Vindicator, March 16, 2012
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/mar/16/earthquake-time-line/
[4] Letter to Brookfield Township Trustees from Robert Boulware of Highland Field Services dated August 22, 2017.
[5] “Officials seek injection well moratorium,” by Bob Coupland, Tribune Chronicle, October 3, 2017
http://www.tribtoday.com/news/local-news/2017/10/officials-seek-injection-well-moratorium/
[6] Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine: Sunshine Laws Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)s:
http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/FAQ/Sunshine-Laws-FAQs#FAQ336
[7] “Brookfield set to meet on emergency plan for township,” by Bob Coupland, Tribune Chronicle, September 14, 2017
http://www.tribtoday.com/news/local-news/2017/09/brookfield-set-to-meet-on-emergency-plan-for-township/
[8]
“Residents, officials express concerns regarding proposed Brookfield
injection wells,” By Ed Runyan, February 19, 2017, Vindicator
http://www.vindy.com/news/2017/feb/19/plans-for-injection-wells-spur-concerns/
[9] “Huge study links wastewater injection wells to earthquakes,” by Julia Rosen, June 18, 2015,
Science http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2015/06/huge-study-links-wastewater-injection-wells-earthquakes
[10]
“Residents, officials express concerns regarding proposed Brookfield
injection wells,” By Ed Runyan, February 19, 2017, Vindicator
http://www.vindy.com/news/2017/feb/19/plans-for-injection-wells-spur-concerns/
[11]
“The fault that produced North Texas’ largest quake could produce an
even bigger one, study says,” by Anna Kuchment, Dallas Morning News,
September 25, 2017
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/science-medicine/2017/09/25/fault-produced-north-texas-largest-quake-produce-even-bigger-one-study-says
[12] “Huge study links wastewater injection wells to earthquakes,” by Julia Rosen, June 18, 2015,
Science http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2015/06/huge-study-links-wastewater-injection-wells-earthquakes
[13]
Quakeland: On the Road to America’s Next Devastating Earthquake,
by Kathryn Miles, Dutton: Penguin Publishing Group: 2017, page 107 ;
“Earthquakes Can Happen in More Places Than You Think: We still don’t
know where all the faults lie,” by Simon Worrall, August 26, 2017,
National Geographic.:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/08/earthquake-fault-quakeland-kathryn-miles/
[14] “County asking injection well owner to pay for road damage,” by Steve Robb, July 16, 2015, The Athens Messenger
https://www.athensmessenger.com/news/county-asking-injection-well-owner-to-pay-for-road-damage/article_719bdfb7-c249-5b63-ab17-1106b3bf1016.html
And
for information about Trumbull County Ohio Road Use Maintenance
Agreements (RUMA), and road weight limits, etc., see “Officials look to
RUMAs to control injection wells,” Tribune Chronicle, May 24, 2015 at
http://content.tribtoday.com/news/local-news/2015/05/officials-look-to-rumas-to-control-injection-wells/
[15]
“With 5 injection wells, Brookfield wants safety plan for residents.
Township trustees said there are over 300 residents living where the
wells are located,” by Molly Reed, October 2, 2017, updated October 3,
2017,
http://wkbn.com/2017/10/02/with-nearly-20-injection-well-sites-brookfield-wants-safety-plan/
[16]
Excerpt from: “The Trillion-Gallon Loophole: Lax Rules for Drillers
that Inject Pollutants Into the Earth: As the boom in oil and gas
drilling sends a surge of waste into underground injection wells,
safeguards for disposing of these materials are sometimes being ignored
or circumvented,” by Abrahm Lustgarten, September 20, 2012, Propublica,
Excerpt follows:
“Bentsen had won the industry a temporary reprieve
in 1980 by persuading Congress to redefine any substance that resulted
from drilling – or “producing” – an oil or gas well as “non-hazardous,”
regardless of its chemical makeup, pending EPA study. In 1988, the EPA
made it permanent, handing oil and gas companies a
landmark exemption.
From then on, benzene from the fertilizer industry was considered
hazardous, threatening health and underground water supplies; benzene
derived from wells for the oil and gas industry was not. “
https://www.propublica.org/article/trillion-gallon-loophole-lax-rules-for-drillers-that-inject-pollutants
[17]
See Interested Party Testimony, May 23, 2017, Sil Caggiano, Deputy
Chief Mahoning County Hazardous Materials Response Agency to the Senate
Finance Subcommittee on General Government and Agency Review, Am. Sub.
HB 49 ; and also May 23, 2017 Interested Party Testimony of John Slavik,
Fire Chief, Mark Sommers, Assistant Chief, Tim Hall, Assistant Chief,
Cumberland Trail Fire District to the same Subcommittee at the following
url:
http://ohiosenate.gov/committee/finance-general-government-and-agency-review-subcommittee#
