State investigates fracking waste spill

[limpyhobbler]

State officials are investigating an "intentional" dumping of thousands of gallons of "fracking" wastes and oil into a Youngstown area stream.

Details on what happened the evening of Jan 31 at D&L Energy at 2761 Salt Springs Road are hard to come by. A National Spill Response Center report, which you can see here, includes this description.

"An unknown amount of crude oil and brine were intentionally dumped into a storm drain at 2761 Salt Springs Rd. Ohio EPA investigators have noted oil in a Mahoning river (tributary) and the Mahoning River. Estimated amount released could be greater than 20,000 gallons."

Brine is the term used to describe a mixture of ancient salt water tainted with naturally-occuring toxic metals and radium and other industrial fluids that bubble up out of shale wells after they've been fracked. The fracking process pumps millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals underground to shatter the shale and free trapped oil and gas.
...

http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/science-environment/2013/02/fracking-waste-spill.html

COLUMBUS – A week after the dumping of at least 20,000 gallons of toxic and potentially radioactive fracking waste into the Mahoning River by Hard Rock Excavating, state regulators have yet to disclose information about the quantity of waste and the chemicals involved. Environmental advocates are urging the state to act quickly to prosecute the perpetrator and look beyond the one incident to take more aggressive steps to protect the state’s public health and environment from future threats.

“The degree of chutzpah exhibited by Hard Rock in this instance is astounding – but it’s almost what you would expect in a state where we have one enforcement staffer for every 2,000 oil & gas wells.” said Julian Boggs, Environment Ohio State Policy Advocate, noting that it was a company whistleblower, not state regulators, who uncovered the flagrant violation. “We have a legislature that seems more interested in greasing the wheels for fracking companies than protecting public health and the environment – that only enables reckless behavior.” ...

http://www.environmentohio.org/news/ohe/youngstown-fracking-waste-spill-evidence-broader-state-negligence

[JohnnyRingo]

1. Local story for me.

My ex-wife had great reservations about selling out to BP by accepting royalties last year, but knew she wasn't about to stop them through a symbolic protest. She desperately needs the money, and sadly, I believe she's right. BP (and others) will find a way to drill anywhere they want, regardless of how we feel.

I don't even know what to do about this anymore. The oil & gas companies own the US Congress and local governments now. Protests are ineffective and boycotts are impossible. All we have is to shine daylight on their activities as you're doing.

Thanx for posting for those who don't live the gas belt. K&R

[blkmusclmachine]

2. What's a little cancer, compared to Big Profit?

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Local story for me too. "Spill" in your subject line is misleading.

This was no "spill", it was an intentional dump.....incredible.

The thing that is really of concern to me is that the many pro-industry callers to talk radio here are making excuses, or saying that this is an isolated case, or are silent. If I were pro-fracking, and I couldn't be farther from that than I am, I would be condemning the owner of this company even louder than the anti-fracking group. I would be calling for him to be banned from doing business in Ohio. But they are not.

Hard Rock Excavating is owned by the same man who owns D & L Energy. And if you remember, D & L was the company who had the injection well that was causing earthquakes here in Youngstown.

[limpyhobbler]

4. Right

We only hear about it when they get caught.

[limpyhobbler]

5. ODNR revokes permits for D&L Energy Group

YOUNGSTOWN — A source inside the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas has verified that the regulatory agency will revoke the permits of D&L Energy Group.

Both D&L and ODNR are expected to release statements on the matter sometime later today.

The news comes a week after regulators with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the ODNR learned that D&L’s chief executive, Ben W. Lupo, had instructed an employee of Hard Rock Excavating, which he also owns, to dump thousands of gallons of fracking wastewater down a storm drain where both companies have their headquarters at 2761 Salt Spring Road.

A criminal investigation is under way as the waste — which included oil and brine water — made its way into the Mahoning River.
...

http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/feb/07/odnr-revokes-permits-dl-energy-group/

[Curmudgeoness]

6. I just heard this too.

Permits revoked for all his companies. Good! At least, all of the companies that they know about.....and that is sometimes the problem. I was wondering if he will be permanently be banned from getting permits in the future. Since the story is ongoing, I am watching it carefully.

Thanks for the update.