State approves permit to construct two injection wells in Brookfield Township

Staff report

BROOKFIELD

Two injection wells proposed for land near the Wyngate Manor manufactured home community off of state Route 7 have been granted a permit allowing construction of the wells.

It lists 18 conditions that have to be met before commercial injection can begin.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources confirmed that the permits had been issued late Tuesday after Teresa Mills, executive director of the Buckeye Environmental Network, provided The Vindicator with a copy.

Mills, of the Columbus area, said the news that ODNR has agreed to allow the wells to be drilled is especially disappointing because of their proximity to homes.

“When I saw how close these were to the [mobile home] park, I was just flabbergasted,” she said. “Why would you put it there?”

Jane Spies of Hubbard, a member of Frackfree America, who has organized rallies opposing the wells, said she felt approving them is “irresponsible,” especially “in an area of known seismicity.”

Spies was referring to the Northstar injection well in Youngstown that caused a 4.0-magnitude earthquake Dec. 31, 2011, and smaller quakes that shut down the American Water Management injection well in Weathersfield Township in 2014.

The permit references a concern the Brookfield Township trustees raised in a letter to the ODNR: abandoned coal mines.

The permits acknowledge the proposed wells are in “an abandoned mine area,” so “a mine string may be necessary.” A mine string appears to be a reference to multiple strings of steel casing.

Highland Field Services must monitor for seismicity in at least three locations for at least 60 days before commercial injection begins, the permit says.

Rob Boulware, Highland spokesman, said the company “will continue our outreach to help the trustees and residents understand this project.”