Wednesday, March 28, 2012YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A spokesman for Patriot Water Treatment today said the company was "disappointed" by the state Environmental Review Appeal Commission's decision not to grant a stay of the wastewater permit issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, but asserted the process isn't over yet.
The commission issued its ruling this morning denying Patriot and the city of Warren's motion for expedited stay. The new permit, which would take effect April 1 unless put on hold by the ERAC, would prevent Patriot from releasing treated brine wastewater used in the hydraulic fracturing process to Warren's wastewater plant.
Oral arguments for the motion to stay were held Tuesday in Columbus.
"This puts 25 direct jobs and dozens of indirect jobs in imminent danger because, as things stand now, Patriot would be out of business on Sunday," said Vince Bevacqua, executive vice president of ShaleComm. "ERAC did indicate there are important matters of law still to be resolved in Patriot's case, so the company will ask the Trumbull County Court to provide guidance. Those efforts are underway, however, no dates for further action have been established yet," he added.
A hearing is scheduled to begin April 24. Patriot and the city of Warren were ordered to advise the commission by April 2 how they want to proceed.
Copyright 2012 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.