VINCENT, Ohio — Local residents and environmental advocates will gather Tuesday, July 15, at Warren High School for a public meeting to discuss the growing concerns over oil and gas waste injection wells in Washington County.
The event, hosted by the Buckeye Environmental Network, aims to inform community members about the status of both existing and newly proposed Class II and Class I injection wells in the region. The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 15 at the Warren High School Auditorium, located at 130 Warrior Drive in Vincent.
Organizers say the event will include a presentation and open discussion focused on how injection wells—used to dispose of wastewater from oil and gas operations—are impacting local communities. The meeting follows the recent permitting of a new Class II injection well by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), as well as an application for a separate Class I industrial waste injection well in the county.
The event comes amid heightened scrutiny of fracking and wastewater injection in Ohio, particularly following a series of earthquakes in 2024 that state officials linked to hydraulic fracturing activities near Noble County. The tremors—some of which were felt by residents—prompted ODNR to suspend operations at the Bears Pad fracking site.
According to data from the FracTracker Alliance, Ohio has seen a 25% increase in fracking wells in some counties since 2023. In Belmont County alone, there were over 1,625 active wells reported as of late 2024. Critics argue the expansion has outpaced regulatory oversight and raised alarms about the potential for groundwater contamination, air pollution, and long-term environmental damage.
Environmental groups have also voiced concern about the use of undisclosed chemicals in fracking fluids and wastewater, warning that the lack of transparency could endanger drinking water supplies and public health.
Residents attending Tuesday's meeting will be invited to share their experiences and concerns, and learn how to engage with regulatory agencies and elected officials. Advocacy groups say increased public participation is crucial as decisions about injection well permits continue to shape the region’s environmental future.
The meeting is free and open to the public.
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