Permits Granted for 3 Injection Wells in Brookfield

BROOKFIELD, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has issued permits for Pittsburgh-based Highland Field Services Inc. to drill three new Class II injection wells just off state Route 7 in the township.

ODNR’s Division of Oil and Gas approved the three permits March 16, according to ODNR records.

The company, a division of Seneca Resources, last year received permits to drill two wells at the site.

Preparatory work at the site is underway, with work crews clearing out trees and brush to make room for the well complex.

The injection well site is just west of state Route 7 in the township and south of Merwin-Chase Road.

Class II injection wells are used to store contaminated wastewater from oil and gas drilling operations.

Brookfield Township trustees have long opposed the development of new injection wells in the township, citing their potential for triggering earthquakes and the risks of environmental contamination.

In February, township trustees Gary Lees, Ronald Haun and Daniel Suttles issued letters to Gov. John Kasich, the ODNR, Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins, and state Sen. Sean O’Brien’s office calling for the immediate halt to injection well construction in Brookfield.

“Since protecting the community of Brookfield Township is the duty of the trustees, we have the authority to take action to ensure that the public health, safety and welfare of Brookfield Township is protected and maintained, and since the governor and the ODNR have been given similar authority we would hold them responsible for any hazardous or catastrophic incident that may occur as a result of these injection wells,” trustees wrote.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.