[Green] Deep Rock Next Steps

[gbanz42 at suddenlink.net]

Green Sanctuary Folks:

    I just attended a meeting of the coalition that has been addressing the Deep Rock barge-disposal issue. They discussed some possible next steps. This group at the Zoom meeting included the Buckeye Environmental Network, the Ohio  Valley Environmental Coalition, Earth Justice (national staff attorney), Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services and others. First are some items we can all do:

      1. If you happen to be driving on Route 7 just south of Marietta, check to see if there are any barges being offloaded at the new Deep Rock site.

       2. Contact Adam Schroeder (adam.schroeder at dnr.state.oh.us) at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to request information  as a Public Records Request.  Below is my request. It is important that he hear from more residents of Washington County than me. I would suggest that you choose one of these four requests I have made and send your message to Mr. Schroeder. 



      I am respectfully making the following PRR under ORC 149.43 regarding injection wells in Washington County, of which I am a resident:

     1. How many injection wells are there in Washington County?

      2. How many barrels of brine waste were injected in these wells in 2019?

      3. How deep are the injection wells in our county?

     4. May I have copies of the inspection reports of these wells in Washington County?

   Other items discussed at the meeting of the coalition today:

     -The Red Bird Well #4 (injection well in the Veto area) has breached, and ODNR is doing an investigation. It may affect Little Hocking Water supply, Warren Water Supply and Belpre Water supply. 

     -People affected have been in contact with State Sen. Frank Hoagland and Repr. Jay Edwards about the injection well issue

    -Ohio earns $.05/barrel for brine waste from OH and $.20/barrel for brine waste from PA and WV.

    -ODNR sent 1297 letters to people near these wells.  Only three people responded by sending letters. 

    -ODNR may be drafting new rules for regulation of injection wells soon. 

     -There is a group being organized currently called Stop Brine Spreading Action  Group. More on that later.

      -Fair Shakes thinks that the USACE violated public information issues of the National Environmental Policy Act and would like to pursue that issue.. 
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George Banziger
202 Lawton Road
Marietta, OH 45750-1111
740-434-5685
cell: 740-434-3354