ODNR answers questions about proposed Brookfield injection wells

By ED RUNYAN

runyan@vindy.com

BROOKFIELD

Though residents of the Wyngate Manor manufactured-home community and other neighbors don’t want to see two injection wells constructed near their homes, state officials say the proposed wells meet regulations.

Regulations prohibit injection wells from being located within 150 feet of an occupied dwelling, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said in a question-and-answer feature regarding the proposal it posted on its website recently.

The 13 questions and answers regard the proposal by Pittsburgh-based Highland Field Services to construct injection wells next to Wyngate Manor off state Route 7. The wells would also be close to homes on Merwin Chase Road.

Steve Irwin, an ODNR spokesman, said the state agency has not yet made a decision on whether to grant Highland a permit to drill the wells.

Brookfield Township trustees wrote a letter to the ODNR questioning whether the injection wells might also be dangerous because of underground coal mines in the area.

ODNR responded if an abandoned mine is encountered, “another [layer] of [well] casing is required. This requirement will be a portion of the permitting conditions.”

As to one of the complaints voiced by neighbors, the addition of truck traffic in the neighborhood, ODNR responded the agency “does not have the authority to regulate traffic, although traffic patterns may be a consideration in the permitting process with a recommendation that the applicant involve the local road authority.”

As for whether there is a “concentration” of injection wells in Northeast Ohio, the ODNR said because injection wells are used to dispose of the wastewater from oil and gas wells, they are often located “near areas of production and main transportation routes.”

When asked whether Trumbull County has more injection wells than “the entire state of Pennsylvania,” ODNR responded, “Eastern Ohio is home to a large percentage of the state’s injection wells.” It added oil and natural-gas production and investment in the eastern portion of the state “vastly outpaces the rest of the state as well.”

Irwin said the question-and-answer format on its website has been a good way to provide information for injection-well proposals that produce a lot of public input.