Dennison Disposal Injection Well pt.1 — Repeated Spills, Delayed Response

Credit to Jenny Morgan who continues further research in her ‘Daily Accident Report’ project. She’s made public records requests, researched primary sources, and raised attention about the myriad of oil and gas waste issues going on unchecked in Ohio. Editing of this report done by Buckeye Environmental Network.

Incident #2: Dennison Disposal Injection Well — Repeated Spills, Delayed Response

CLASS II INJECTION Dennison DISPOSAL WELL (SWIW#11) LAND AFFECTED

(ODNR incident #2023249)

Over a three-year period, the Dennison Disposal facility in Tuscarawas County experienced multiple spills of oil and gas waste. Some were reported late. Some were discovered by regulators instead of the company. In each case, the response raises the same question: how long is too long to leave contamination sitting on the ground?  This is one of a two part series on the incidents at Dennison Disposal.

Dennison Disposal in Tuscarawas county is one example of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) dragging its feet to have companies clean up their messes. Dennison Disposal has allowed contamination to flow right into Little Stillwater Creek which is a tributary of the Tuscarawas River. What is covered in this incident is four different spills over just a three year period.

Concerns of spillage on site include groundwater contamination, runoff into waterways or onto farmland, and water wells. This is why in 2016, Governor Kasich used language in Executive Order 2016-04K that reflected these risks:

“Whereas, the release of natural gas, crude oil, brine, drill cuttings, hydrogen sulfide gas, hazardous substances, extremely hazardous substances, and other wastes can have a deleterious impact on the environment if the release is not quickly discovered and remediated…”

This executive order created a 24/7 Ohio oil and gas incident hotline and updated reporting rules , including a rule that an oil and gas incident must be reported within 30 minutes of discovery. However, in practice, the enforcement does not match the urgency written into the rules.  Companies are often given extended time to respond, leading to unnecessary and extended contamination.

Radioactive oil and gas waste spill discovered on November 8, 2021:This spill was in relation to their Class II Injection Well (SWIW #15).

840 gallons of radioactive oil and gas waste brine was released onto the ground at the facility. The only information that Ohio Department of Natural Resources gives is:
“Trench has been backfilled. Revegetation will not occur until spring time after the backfill has settled and area regraded.”

Here’s how the 2022 ODNR tracking sheet, with its limited information, describes the spill:

 “The Company’s General Manager of Operations at Denison Disposal reported a brine release to the One Call. The release was reported on 1/18/2022 due to being found to have occurred on 12/29/2021. A review of the video recordings was under review by (Dennison Disposal) due to a release that was thought to be within containment. After reviewing video of the operation, it is now believed that a release of 210-420 gallons of production brine was released into the environment. The company investigated drains and found no impacts remain on 1/18/2022. A field investigation on 1/19/2022 found water impacted by de-icing salt to be present in the catch basin, valve was closed and fluid was captured using on site vacuum truck.” 

.The report says the land was affected. A spill was discovered at the facility,yet itwas not reported by the company until eighteen days later.

First, let’s look at the spill that happened on June 29, 2023, 5 months before the one in November. The ODNR brief tracking description says this:

“(ODNR staff) was on the Dennison Disposal LLC property looking at a previously remediated area when discoloration was noticed on gravel in the swale between the facility and the well. A soil conductivity probe was utilized to determine whether the discoloration was due to fresh water or brine impacted water. Conductivity readings were “Over Range” on soil and fluid in the area of discoloration which indicates contamination of oil and gas waste. Visibly impacted area was 2500-3000 square feet. The facility is very clean and no obvious source was identified. Three northern most drainage basins on the facility driveway were field screened and were cleaned at this time. (ODNR) contacted (the Co’s General Manager) to inform him of findings. (The company) will have a crew out Monday 7-3 (4 days later) to install a cut off trench (a collection ditch) to collect water, and they will further investigate the source. (ODNR) notified the UIC (underground injection control) inspector of the situation.” 

It is concerning that a spill impacting 2,500–3,000 square feet was discovered on 6/29/23, yet the company did not return for four days to begin containment, and ODNR allowed that delay. 

The spill was discovered at Dennison Disposal in Tuscarawas County on Nov. 9, 2023. Another brine spill, with unknown amounts, had just happened here 5 months prior and impacted 2500 to 3000 square feet of land at the facility. On Nov. 9th, the spill amount was estimated to be 1050 gallons of brine-waste. It too, impacted the land, but it is not noted how much land.

ODNR Emergency response staff made 11 site visits to Dennison in regards to the spill. However, the only information provided on these visits appears in the ODNR tracking spreadsheet again, a document with limited information. Here is ODNR’s brief description of the spill as it is written in the tracking sheet:

“Drain is not flowing this date. The remaining water in sump measured 4.23 ms/cm. Slope is partially vegetated. Will get with operator in July to finalize remediation.” 

Why the delay?

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources records show  staff visited the site on 10/13/2023  nearly a month before the Nov 9th spill, and then not again until 1/30/2024,almost 3 months after the Nov 9th spill.  Despite 11 reported site visits related to this spill, there are no detailed notes publicly available. 

 There is also no closure date listed on the ODNR tracking sheet for this spill. It simply notes this spill to be in the “remediation/recovery”  stage.  It is concerning that on 11/9/23, 1050 gallons of contaminated brine-waste was discovered on the ground at the Dennison Disposal facility, yet remediation was not expected to be finalized until July. 

This report demonstrates a lack of transparency, shown in the limited information available on these contamination events. No suspensions or fines were issued to Dennison Disposal over the course of these three contamination events. Why is the Chief of the Division of Oil and Gas not enforcing the laws made to protect Ohioans from toxic and radioactive oil and gas waste brine?

This Incident Report comes ahead as just one piece of a larger, comprehensive project releasing this summer detailing Injection Well failures and other ecological disasters.

TAKE ACTION :CLICK HERE to Sign this petition to demand Injection Well Regulations in Ohio. We need our water and land to be protected !

To support the continued work we do here at the Buckeye Environmental Network, please consider a donation, and to stay up to date on this issue and all our efforts,subscribe to our newsletter.