Ohio's New Fracking Regulations

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has announced a new set of rules for hydraulic fracturing (frac) disposal, spurred in part by the recent decision and announcement that fracking brine injection at waste water disposal sites caused a series of earthquakes near Youngstown, Ohio.

According to the ODNR, the new rules are among the toughest brine dumping rules in the nation. The new rules apply to new injection well sites as well as existing waste water injection sites.

A Brief Summary of Ohio's New Brine Injection Rules

• No new wells will be permitted to be drilled into the Precambrian basement rock formation.
• Existing wells going into the Precambrian basement rock formation will have to be capped with cement - or more accurately - the ODNR will have the authority to require their capping.
• Operators (drillers) will be required to submit extensive geological data before drilling under the new rules.
• The new regulations require up to date, effective pressure and volume monitoring devices; to include automatic shut-off switches and electronic data recorders.
• Under the new rules, brine haulers will be required to install electronic transponders, thereby ensuring “cradle to grave” monitoring of all shipments.

The full report is available on the ODNR website.