State official: ‘no specific timeline’ to complete Kleese investigation

Staff report

VIENNA

More than a month after 2,000 gallons of light waste oil spilled from a brine- injection facility on Sodom-Hutchings Road, a state regulatory spokesman says there is still “no specific time line” for the agency to complete its review of the spill.

Eric Heis, ODNR spokesman, said Thursday in an email there was “no update” on the spill, such as whether Kleese Development will soon reopen its facilities to injection of brine waste or what changes ODNR has ordered the company to make as a result of the spill.

ODNR has provided few details about the cause of the spill. In an April 22 email, Heis said the spill “has been traced back to the storage facility on the Kleese property.”

Heis did not respond in Thursday’s email when asked whether ODNR has identified the reason the oil leaked from the site.

State Rep. Sean O’Brien of Bazetta, D-63rd, said two weeks ago ODNR officials told him the oil leaked from holding tanks at the site and a liner underneath them.

Vienna Township Trustee Phil Pegg said April 22 he observed many of the holding tanks and the concrete under them having been removed from the site.

The spill first was reported to state officials by a Sodom-Hutchings Road resident March 31.