Youngstown Company Shut Down After Dumping Illegally
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has permanently revoked operating permits for D&L Energy and Hardrock Excavating, 2761 Salt Springs Road, Youngstown, and owned by Ben Lupo.
The revocations came after employees were observed dumping oilfield waste into a storm sewer that emptied into the Mahoning River watershed.
Upon notification, ODNR began working with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to stop and contain the release of oil field waste to the stream. Containment booms, absorbent pads, vacuum trucks and other equipment are in place and work continues to clean out the storm drain and remove any remaining product from the tributary.
The permit revocations come less than a week after ODNR received an anonymous tip of illegal dumping at the Salt Springs Road facility.
Criminal investigation
The state immediately started and is continuing a criminal investigation. ODNR has requested the Ohio Attorney General initiate civil proceedings, but in response to the investigations’ findings to date, the state’s specific enforcement actions include:
♦ D&L Energy will cease all injection well operations in the state of Ohio.
♦Revocation of six current injection well permits for D&L Energy.
♦The denial of D&L Energy’s applications for three new injection well permits.
♦D&L Energy will cease all temporary storage operations at 2761 Salt Springs Road in Youngstown.
♦Revocation of Hardrock Excavating’s brine haulers permit, which allowed it to transport oilfield waste from drilling rigs to its facility.
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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.
These fools are going to ruin it for everyone. They just keep giving people reasons to dislike/not trust the drillers, and eventually drive them away from our areas, along with their money. There’s so much money to be made in drilling, they really have to cut corners? Just greed. I hope they all go to jail for this. My kids drink that water!