Patriot Water in Warren gets favorable state ruling

The Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission ruled today that Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director Scott Nally did not meet the burden of proof that OEPA unlawfully granted Patriot Water Treatment, LLC and the city of Warren two permits pertaining to brine water disposal.

Patriot treats low salinity, high total dissolved solids water from fracking, a process in which water, chemicals and sand are blasted into rocks thousands of feet below the ground to unlock natural gas and oil.

After the water is treated to pre-approved safety standards, it then goes to the city’s wastewater treatment plant, where it is further cleaned.

Nally, who was not the director when OEPA granted the permits in 2010, had argued that the environmental entity unlawfully gave the permits to Patriot and Warren.

ERAC overruled that claim and also stated that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources legitimately permitted Patriot’s business in accordance with Ohio law.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com