Class I wells are designed for the deep underground injection of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes generated by commercial and industrial operations. They are strictly regulated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA), distinguishing them from the oil and gas (Class II) wells regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Nationally, there are only about 800 operational Class I wells, but they handle enormous volumes of the most dangerous industrial waste streams.
Class I Sites in Ohio
Ohio currently has 16 active Class I wells operating at five major facilities across the state. These sites are managed by companies such as Vickery Environmental, Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corp., and Lima Refining Company. These companies use the wells to dispose of fluids ranging from “non-hazardous” industrial brine to wastewater from the manufacture of chemicals. While Ohio has a relatively small number of these wells, they handle exceptionally large amounts of chemical and manufacturing waste.
The 10,000-Year Problem: Why We Must Monitor Class I Wells
Class I wells are intended to isolate waste permanently. For hazardous waste wells, companies must demonstrate that the injected fluids will not migrate vertically out of the injection zone for 10,000 years. However, this system of permanent storage faces three main risks:
- Well Integrity: Failures in the multiple layers of steel casing and cement, which are installed to protect aquifers, could allow contaminants to migrate upward.
- Geologic Instability: High-pressure injection activities can threaten the seal, potentially leading to breaches in the cap rock that separates the waste from the drinking water sources above.
- Long-Term Liability: When these massive industrial sites eventually close, the burden of ensuring these millions of gallons of waste remain isolated falls back onto the public and state resources.
BEN’s Role: Ensuring the Ohio EPA Holds Industry Accountable
Buckeye Environmental Network works to ensure that the Ohio EPA enforces the strictest possible standards for Class I wells. Our focus includes:
Advocacy: We work with communities facing the threats that these wells pose, helping them to protect themselves from future chemical and radioactive hazards.
Public Disclosure: Demanding transparency regarding the specific types and volumes of hazardous and industrial wastes being injected near Ohio communities.
In 2025, our focus has been on the Class I well proposed for Washington County, Ohio. A company has proposed to build a well within 2 miles of Marietta’s Source Water Protection Area surrounding their drinking water aquifer. This would be the 7th injection well permitted within that radius.