fracking-legal & public policy implications
TRANSCRIPT
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Mineral Exploration & Extraction in Public Water Well Fields: an Ohio Legal & Public
Policy PerspectiveJulie Weatherington-Rice, PhD, CPG, CPSSBennett & Williams Environmental Consultants Inc.
An Ohio Fracture Flow Working Group
PresentationJune 21, 2012
Adj. Asst. Prof, Ohio State U. Food, Ag & Bio Eng.
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Oil & Gas Drilling in Ohio, 1860 - Present
Prime Class II Brine Injection WellsMt. Simon SS SW OhioLocations
~2,000’Cincinnati Arch
~13,000’
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Mineral Exploration & Extraction in Public Water Well Fields & Their Recharge Area are Non-Conforming, Potentially Polluting Land UsesThey are the ONLY remaining major land uses of this category that are NOT either precluded / regulated by Federal / Ohio law in Source Water Protection Areas or subject to management under a local Source Water Protection Management Plan
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Mineral Exploration & Extraction
Since NOT precluded or locally managed, the siting and mineral rights for extraction are based on Federal / Ohio mineral laws (O&G, coal, rock, S&G, etc.) which DO NOT traditionally recognize the importance of source water protection
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After the Fact Damages• Dewatering – Ohio Cline vs.
American Aggregates• Contamination – Federal Clean
Water Act• Both conditions require litigation
in Civil Court• Both require that damage has
already occurred• Both are unsecured claims in
Bankruptcy Courts
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Preventing Damages Before They Occur • Ohio Courts typically find for the
mineral owner• Two major “Lands Unsuitable for
Coal Mining” cases have shaped these decisions
• Ohio Environmental Council fact sheet about cases on line (http://www.theoec.org/PDFs/FactSheets/BarnesvilleWaterCase02.pdf)
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Current Setbacks – Oil & Gas• 50’ from streams and lakes (set
by Sub SB 165) including in 100-yr floodplains and surface water source water protection areas
• 300’ from water wells public/private
• Nothing in the Ohio Revised Code or the Ohio Administrative Code to protect by exclusion public water supply well fields or recharge areas
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How Did Locals Loose Control on Oil & Gas?• 2004, HB 278 (Tom Niehaus) pre-
empts local communities from using local zoning authority to say where oil & gas wells and Class II injection wells can go, before 2004, local zoning applied
• 2010 Sub SB 165 (Tom Niehaus again) upholds HB 278 & strengthens ODNR Oil & Gas’s power even over other state agencies; removes rights of locals to appeal; does not address source water protection management requirements
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More Changes ComingSub SB 165 – Effective June 30, 2010
* Mostly about money* “Grants the Division of Mineral Resources Management (now Oil & Gas) sole and exclusive authority to regulate production operations, as defined by the act, within the state”* Allows ODNR (ODH & OEPA) to revise rules through the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR)
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Progress on Revising RulesFinalized• Ohio EPA – Air permit set• Ohio Dept. Health: Radioactivity
(NORM & TENORM) – all authority reverts to Oil & Gas- may be more radioactive than man-made wastes or SDWA levels allow but because “natural” doesn’t count, allows down blending in landfills, no Ohio data yet http://www.epa.state.oh.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=cmfCggUBals%3d&tabid=5024
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Progress on Revising RulesSent/Heading to JCARR; OEC/OFFWG
comments submitted• Well Construction Rules – Just
Approved• Revision ORC 1501:9-1-01 thru
1501:9-11-04 (Hodge-podge of rules) checked w/ ODNR O&G 6-20-12 for updates but could not get one
• Ohio EPA wetlands reporting
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Progress on Revising Rules
Coming Up• Class II Injection
Wells Revisions(above Pre-Cambrian basement rock now)Seismic rules just proposed 6-7-12
• Everything else• Check web sites
often http://www.ohiodnr.com/mineral/tabid/10352/Default.aspx
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Possible Options to Exclude Source Water Protection Areas from Drilling• Currently ODNR O&G would have to
buy the resource if they denied a permit
• Overturn the Ohio Supreme Court decision on Pleasant City (State ex rel. R. T. G. v. State of Ohio) possibly using the new Ohio Constitutional Amendment
• Pass a bill through the Ohio House and Senate providing exemptions to drilling in Source Water Protection Areas & 100-year flood plains
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SB 315-Ohio Energy Bill-Now Signed
• Allows ODNR to require additional permit requirements in the following areas if they so choose
• 100-year floodplains• 5-year time-of-travel,
public water supplies• DOES NOT overturn
Pleasant City or Barnesville so may not hold up in court if challenged
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What Can Locals Do?• Find out if you even
own your mineral rights (If there are old wells, the rights may have transferred)
• Find out who owns your lease – selling/swapping like sub-prime mortgages
• Remember, you can be bundled
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Drilling Permit Issued in your Source Water Protection Area?Contact all applicable federal, state,
regional & local agencies to MAKE SURE relevant permits have been obtained- Wetlands/Stream crossings (OEPA/ACE)- Flood plains (local admin/conservancy district)- Setbacks from private wells (local health dept.)- Roads & Bridge weight limits (Co. Engineer, Twp., Municipality)- Water withdrawal permits (ODNR DSWR)
If permitted sites violate laws/rules, notify ODNR O&G (Driller responsible for obtaining permits) & local Senator/Rep.
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Test Your Water Before They Drill• Test before
drilling• Test after drilling• Test regularly
after well is installed & producing
• Pros & Cons of fingerprinting methane
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Learn from Munroe Falls • Using the courts
to protect water• Appeals to
prevent drilling in 5-yr TOT area; denied but permits expired
• Enforce building codes including permits for site construction; upheld & stiff fines collected
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What are Your Rights?Local water suppliers can place an observer at drilling sites w/in 5-yr TOT if in Management Plan for all land-use activitiesNothing in Sub SB 165 to preclude O&G drilling sites• Observer needs OSHA certification
• Have all required oilfield safety equipment
• Stay out of way of drilling activities• Coordinate w/ ODNR O&G
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Be at the Rulemaking Table• Advocate for your water system• Comment on all rule changes,
especially as they relate to YOUR supply
• Provide technical comments, especially those related to impacts to your well field
• Don’t comment, you may lose standing
• Make sure your local Ohio Rep/Senator have copies of your commentsRequest they offer legislation to level the playing field and return local zoning & source water protection planning to the permitting process
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Wellfield Recharge Area Leased?
• No Funding available to make communities whole if wellfield is damaged
• Establish replacement cost & water needs ahead of time
• Document service area, number of taps, average daily water usage
• Document alternative sources available to you & level of water rationing needed to maintain services
• Discuss plans needed to carry out emergency back-up water for your community including length of time to bring alternative system on line
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Wellfield Recharge Area Leased?• Notify ODNR O&G in writing of water supply
replacement information • CC your local Rep/Senator, ODNR Director &
the Governor• Send Certified copy to the Drilling Company
and Permit Holder• Ask them to submit a plan to fund cost of
replacement and manage emergency supplies before drilling begins
• Make all responses part of the public record in case of future litigation
• Educate your customer base about your pro-active protection efforts
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Join Forces with your Neighbors
• Consider petitioning a Sole Source Aquifer
• 5 already in Ohio, parts of 20 counties
• NW Ohio MICHINDO SSA Petition still open
• Tuscarawas Watershed Combined SSA Petition in progress
• Documents replacement costs of ground water public water supplies on the Federal level
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Contacts for Ohio Journal of Science Papers & this Presentation
OFFWG, Dr. Julie Weatherington-Rice, B&W, OSU FABE, [email protected]
OFFWG, Dr. Ann Christy, OSU FABE, [email protected]
Bennett & Williams, Linda Aller RS, [email protected]
Ohio Journal of Science Web Link at OSU, https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/handle/1811/686
Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Waters Source Water Assessment and Protection Program, www.epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/swap_ssa.aspx
Keeping Ohio’s Water CleanOhio Fracture Flow Working
Group