Community concerns about the growing presence of injection wells and their impact on water safety took center stage Monday at the Warren Community Water and Sewer Association office.
Residents, environmental advocates, and local oil and gas well operators came together for a public meeting, voicing strong opposition to the state’s handling of brine injection wells and new legislation that could further threaten public health.
The event was organized with the support of the Buckeye Environmental Network and Warren Water and Sewer Association. State Rep. Tristan Rader, a Democrat from Lakewood, attended the session and pledged to bring the voices of concerned residents to the floor of the Ohio House.
The main concern: the migration of brine and hazardous waste from existing injection wells, particularly those in Washington County. According to attendees, these deep-well disposal systems are allowing toxic waste fluids—byproducts of oil and gas drilling—to contaminate groundwater and even reach the surface.
Bob Lane, a former well operator from the region, gave a chilling account of abandoned wells that are now leaking brine above ground. “They told us it wouldn’t come out of the ground,” Lane said. “Now we’ve got wells flowing on their own. Some of these were drilled before the state even kept records and never plugged.”
His testimony is backed by a 2020 study funded by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The study revealed that brine from the Redbird Disposal Well in Washington County had spread to nearby oil and gas wells. Despite these findings, local residents claim the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has taken little or no action on continued complaints or to broaden testing.
Another flashpoint was Ohio House Bill 170. If passed, this legislation would transfer the regulatory oversight of carbon capture and storage, including Class VI injection wells, from the federal government to ODNR. Critics say this would hand too much control to a state agency that has already failed to address existing issues.
Environmental organizer Bev Reed from the Buckeye Environmental Network warned, “The technology is experimental, the oversight is inadequate, and the consequences could be devastating. This bill is being rushed without a true understanding of the risks.”
Randi Pokladnik, a retired chemist with a Ph.D. in environmental studies, detailed how injecting carbon dioxide into underground rock formations could create carbonic acid. This acid could potentially leach harmful metals and minerals into aquifers used for drinking water.
“This isn’t just a theoretical risk,” Pokladnik explained. “Once carbon dioxide mixes with water, it forms carbonic acid and that can unleash a cascade of contamination.” She also pointed to safety risks from CO₂ pipeline failures, where leaked gas could displace oxygen and render areas hazardous for emergency responders.
Speakers questioned the state’s ability to regulate the increasing number of injection wells across eastern Ohio. Joe Wigal noted that Washington County alone hosts more Class II disposal wells than the entire states of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Adding to that, Lane stated that about 90% of the brine waste from neighboring states is being trucked into Ohio. “We’ve been calling Ohio the toxic toilet of the Midwest,” said Roxanne Groff, a long-time environmental activist and former Athens County Commissioner. “Because they’re pumping toxic, radioactive waste from several states, states that have stricter laws than we do.”
The message from the Warren meeting was clear: residents and experts alike believe urgent action is needed to protect water safety and public health. As Ohio lawmakers continue to debate the future of carbon storage and injection well oversight, the people most directly affected are demanding that their voices finally be heard.
