News
Athens County: Make Rules Stronger
By: Fred Kight
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Athens County is asking for tougher controls on waste disposal injection wells in Ohio.
New state rules took effect in July but they are subject to review and Athens County officials offered comments which have been obtained by WOUB News.
One recommendation from the county has to do with monitoring of injection wells.
It suggests the rule be changed so that any leak is reported more quickly.
The written comment sent to the state says "Since existing wells were constructed to older standards, monitoring results should be reported 'monthly', not 'annually'."
Another suggestion from Athens County to a legislative committee that deals with state agency rules has to do with automatic shut-off devices.
The recommendation here is to mandate shutoff devices on existing wells "since existing wells were permitted to older standards."
The comments were developed by an Athens County advisory committee which acknowledged the new state rules "generally increase the permitting and operational requirements for injection wells for oil and gas waste disposal."