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Weathersfield wants details on well site
By Mary Smith
MINERAL RIDGE
Weathersfield Township trustees have sent letters to both Halcon Resources Corp. of Houston and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources concerning well drilling in or near the township, Trustee Gil Blair said.
ODNR has granted permits for injection wells off of state Route 169, and trustees noted they previously had expressed their concerns with the location of the wells.
Trustees have asked ODNR for more information on plans for the site.
Mark Bruce, ODNR spokesman in Columbus, said two injection-only well permits were issued July 18 to American Water Management Services, Warren, on the Route 169 (Main St.) property. ODNR maps show that the wells are to be on 5.2 acres across the street from the Heaton Chute residential area. A portion of the land borders Niles at the south of the property. The wells are to be a proposed 9,100 feet deep.
Injection wells are used to inject wastewater from drilling deep into the ground.
Blair said both the township and city of Niles have objected to injection wells, often used to hold brine from well drilling.
Niles council this week unanimously approved a “community bill of rights” that prohibits future gas and oil extractions. Niles Mayor Ralph Infante said he believes a permit has been granted for a well in Weathersfield Township that abuts city limits. Infante also expressed concern about a well alongside the city’s Robbins Avenue.
Blair noted Ohio’s laws on injection wells are more liberal than in some other states, and companies have been bringing in wastewater from Pennsylvania to be put into injection wells.
The letter on the proposed well site asks ODNR if there will be any airborne vapors or evaporants that could be hazardous to residents.
Trustees said they have conducted some research on the nature of chemicals that might be injected into the wells and expressed concerns based on existing geological issues in the area.
They noted that in the 1980s, there were residents who complained that their water actually was flammable when it came from their water wells.
“Our staff does site visits,” ODNR’s Bruce said. Geologists look at ground formations, and all other related issues are studied.
“We do a very thorough review process,” he said.
The letter to Halcon, which has been drilling in Lordstown village off of Brunstetter Road, next to the Westwood Lake Mobile Home Park, says trustees are pleased to hear that the drilling was successful, and wishes Halcon success in its business endeavors, adding: “We would certainly appreciate any measures that you could take to assist our citizens during this process.”
Residents from Westwood Lake complained numerous times about noise, lights, sleep depravation, headaches and nausea during the fracking and and flaring process.
Trustees have asked Halcon to take additional steps to “protect the peace and tranquillity” of residents in Westwood, suggesting pointing lights toward the cornfield when drilling and some form of sound barrier for the fracking and flaring process.