NILES, Ohio -- A wastewater injection operation along state Route 169 in Weathersfield Township that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has linked to a small earthquake in the area remains closed as the owner says his company is providing all of the data and necessary information to the agency.
Ron Klingle, chairman of Avalon Holdings Corp., parent of American Water Management Services Inc., says that the technical staff of his company is in contact with ODNR officials, but would not elaborate on much else until more details become known.
"Our technical people are in communication with the state's people," Klingle said. "Other than that, I don’t think I could comment further until we know more."
Late on Sept. 4, ODNR ordered two wells at the Weathersfield site to be shut down because of a 2.1 magnitude tremor that occurred near the site Aug. 31 (READ STORY). The epicenter was a few hundred feet from the deeper of the two wells.
ODNR spokeswoman Betheny McCorkle said last week that the agency ordered American Water Management to suspend operations after an array of seismic monitors determined that the quake was likely triggered by one of the wells.
"This is a relatively minor event, but out of an abundance of caution, ODNR issued chief’s orders to the company to suspend injection operations while a full investigation takes place," the statement said.
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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