NE Ohio Injection Well Operation To Stay Halted Amid Litigation

A Youngstown-area wastewater injection well at the center of a dispute over Ohio's authority to regulate oil-and-gas operations will remain closed during litigation by judge's order. Judge Kimberly Cocroft denied a request to allow the Weathersfield Township well to resume short-term operations while its legal appeal proceeds. Arguments are scheduled Novenber 1.  Well operator American Water Management Services disputes the legal authority of the oil-and-gas chief at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The company also claims state actions against its well -which disposes of fracking wastewater  - defy science.  At least 20 small seismic events occurred near the well in 2014. State regulators believe they tapped the same fault as a 4.0-magnitude quake in Youngstown in 2011.