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Nohe clarifies stance on injection wells at commission meeting

By Sophie Wheeler 4 min read

MARIETTA - Washington County Commissioners approved a resolution for the completion of the Devloa sewer project Thursday while Commissioner Greg Nohe clarified his stance on a potential moratorium for Class II injection wells.

Democrat John Rauch, who is a member of the Little Hocking Water Association and is challenging Nohe and independent Justin Harris in the November election, asked Nohe about his stance on the injection well issue. Nohe previously stated he signed Washington County for Safe Drinking Water's petition for a moratorium on all injection well activity, but Rauch stated a mailer for Nohe's campaign only mentioned a moratorium for new well activity.

Nohe said "I'm in agreement with what the moratorium said that I signed,” Nohe said.

Dee Wells Arnold, with Washington County for Safe Drinking Water, asked for further clarification.

"Are you in agreement that all injection wells should be stopped in Washington County for (an environmental review)?" she said.

Nohe initially said he was in agreement with the information on the mailer and later confirmed he was in agreement with a three year moratorium on all injection wells in Washington County.

"We all want safe drinking water. Is that not correct? And we all feel that there’s a problem with what’s going on? Is that not correct? Then that's my position," he said.

Arnold also asked Commission President Charlie Schilling his stance on the regulations of the wells and their handling by state agencies.

"I’m fine with the regulatory action that the state has followed. I don’t disagree that there are potential issues, and I feel like that, in communication with ODNR, that they are looking into these things and they are investigating these things," Schilling said. “There was a there was a shutdown of one of these wells for them to investigate and for them to evaluate that. So I do feel like it’s a concern, but I feel like the state agency that handles that also sees that as a concern, and we’ve expressed that."

In other business, commissioners approved a resolution that affirms the completion of the 2012 findings and orders from the Ohio EPA, which determined "high nitrate levels were evidence of unsanitary conditions and violations of Ohio's general water criteria in Western Devola," Schilling said.

After the construction of the new sewer system, sanitary sewer tank and final connection to the existing gravity system, the commission has resolved the orders and the project has been completed from a construction perspective, he said.

Commissioners also approved two invoices for the completion of phase II of the pump station project on Ohio 339. During this phase 24 of the 26 lift stations in the county were updated from electrical to pumps, according to Roger Wright, Washington County engineer.

The updates also included a new Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or SCADA, system allowing for remote monitoring of the stations for efficient maintenance, Wright said.

The project totaled to $5.2 million. Wright said his office procured $4 million in loan forgiveness, while the remaining $1.2 million will be taken on as a loan.

Commissioners accepted a pre-engineering study, by Woolpert Engineering, for the Ohio 7 sewer project. The study outlines the opportunities for a sewer system along the state route to connect approximately 47 businesses and 34 residences.

"(Woolpert Engineering) was able to identify what existing treatment systems were there, and it gave us a really good overview of what a project could look like," Schilling said, "This is a step in the process, and then start to work on the project."

He said the next step will include detailing an engineering plan and identifying funding for the approximately $10 million project.

Wright asked commissioners to table the Masonic Park Road maintenance recommendation, transferring the road to Muskingum Township for all future maintenance, for the next two weeks to allow for any public discussion.

"(I'm) just asking that it be tabled for two weeks, to see if anybody comes in for public discussion with any concerns," Wright said.

Wright also asked for commissioners to table a request transferring ownership of Clare Kennedy Drive from a subdivision to Warren Township. The road was made private during the construction of the subdivision to be maintained. With the completion of construction, ownership can be reverted.

He said while Warren Township is in agreement, he asked for the request to be tabled to allow time for public discussion.

Sophie Wheeler can be reached at swheeler@newsandsentinel.com.

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