Stark County judge dismisses lawsuit against Rover Pipeline
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Last week, Stark County Common Pleas Judge Kristin G. Farmer dismissed the state’s lawsuit against Rover Pipeline over alleged water pollution, determining the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency waived its right to regulate pipeline construction under the Clean Water Act, according to the Canton Repository.
The Ohio EPA had a year to act on the Rover’s application seeking to discharge pollutants under the Clean Water Act and failed to do so, according to the judge’s ruling. It, instead, requested the Rover resubmit its application, which was approved.
The lawsuit started In November 2017 when the Ohio Attorney General sued the Rover, alleging environmental violations in more than a dozen counties across the state due to sediment-laden stormwater, leaks and spills of clay-based drilling fluid or the release of water used to pressure-test the pipeline.
Learn more: Canton Repository > UPDATE: Stark County judge tosses Rover Pipeline lawsuit
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.