Clay spills During Ohio Pipeline Job

Environmental regulators in Ohio are investigating the cause of a significant spill of the clay lubricant bentonite during construction of an underground pipeline in eastern Ohio. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Chris Abbruzzese said the material was released Tuesday in Harrison County, northeast of Cadiz. An unknown amount of the material ran into Conotton Creek and directly impacted two private homeowners. Clean-up was nearing completion Thursday. The EPA was assessing enforcement options against the contractors, Southeast Directional Drilling Co. A message was left with the company seeking comment. The ATEX pipeline will extend across 265 miles in Ohio and parts of three other states, connecting to existing lines to transport liquid petroleum products between Pennsylvania and Texas. The incident wasn't connected to fracking activity also occurring in eastern Ohio.