I am writing about what the state of Ohio refers to as Class II injection wells. In the oil and gas business we call them disposal wells. These wells are injecting the waste from high-pressure hydraulic fracturing, that is, fracking, most of it coming to our area. This brine waste contains water but also a toxic brew including harmful chemicals such as PFAS (forever chemicals), carcinogens, volatile organic compounds and more. It is also radioactive. Washington County leads the state in the volume of brine waste injected into its grounds.

I have 50 years of experience drilling and operating shallow conventional oil and gas wells. I currently own approximately 170 shallow oil and gas wells. Forty-three of these wells have been pumped full of brine waste, permanently ruining them. In 2022, a good friend of mine (also a small oil and gas producer with disposal water damage) and I filed a lawsuit in Washington County, Ohio, against several disposal companies. The two Washington County judges either wouldn’t or couldn’t hear our case. The state referred our case to a retired judge from Perry County, Ohio. Despite our having overwhelming and indisputable evidence against the defendants after delaying the proceedings as long as possible, the appointed judge dismissed our case. We filed an appeal and recently learned that we have received a victory in our appeal. Our attorney has noted that the written opinion was quite strong and unequivocal in our favor.

While my friend and I have been directly impacted by this excessive injection of brine waste, it is just a matter of time before others are affected. These disposal companies are injecting this hazardous waste under our farms, water aquifers, towns, schools and even under our homes. With the vast amount of brine waste being injected, it is likely that this waste can go in any direction — even up and into water aquifers. Leaks of this brine waste have already occurred, and the countless trucks carrying brine waste are endangering our roads in the Mid-Ohio Valley. I feel state employees and public officials should prioritize protecting the rights of the tax-paying citizens of this state. At least do no harm.

If you are concerned about this issue, please contact our newly elected state legislators (Kevin Ritter of the 94th House District and Brian Chavez of the 30th Senate District) and Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.