Authorities Probe Frack Waste Dumping at D&L Site
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Officials are investigating the dumping last week of fracking waste into a storm drain that empties in a Mahoning River tributary.
According to an incident report from the National Response Center of the U.S. Coast Guard (CLICK HERE), an “unknown amount of crude oil and brine were intentionally dumped into a storm drain” at 2761 Salt Springs Road, where D&L is located, around 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31. Oil was discovered in the Mahoning River and a river tributary, noted investigators with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. “Amount released could be greater than 20,000 gallons,” the report stated.
The report on the incident was taken about 4 p.m. Feb. 1.
D&L confirmed both the state EPA and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources “are apparently looking into an incident which occurred on D&L-owned property Thursday of last week,” the company’s spokesman, Vince Bevacqua, said in a statement. “We wish to state clearly that D&L Energy was not involved in the incident.”
According to Bevacqua’s statement, “other companies” were operating on the D&L property when the incident took place. “It is D&L’s understanding that those other companies are working with state authorities to determine exactly what happened and why,” Bevacqua said.
Bevacqua did not identify the "other companies" nor their relationship with D&L and its Salt Springs site.
In an email to WKBN, Chris Abbruzzese, OEPA deputy communications director, said the agency is conducting a criminal investigation based on the report of possible illegal discharges into a storm drain near the D&L site, but the investigation is in the preliminary stages. Containment and cleanup of the material is under way using containment booms, absorbent pads, vacuum trucks and other equipment.
"Ohio EPA will not tolerate the flagrant violation of Ohio's environmental laws and companies who violate these laws are jeopardizing their ability to conduct business in the state and will be held accountable," Abbruzzese said in the statement.
Earthquake activity in 2011 linked to a D&L injection well site triggered a the suspension of activities at the well and a statewide moratorium on new injection wells.
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
CLICK HERE to subscribe to our free daily email headlines and to our twice-monthly print edition.