Petition to Revoke ODNR Authority Over Class II Injection Wells

Re: Petition to Determine by Rule that Ohio’s Class II Injection Well Permitting Program No Longer Represents an Effective Program to Prevent Underground Injection that Endangers Drinking Water Sources and Fails to Comply with the Requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act

Dear Administrator Regan and Regional Administrator Shore,

Enclosed is a Petition and Executive Summary submitted on behalf of Buckeye Environmental Network, Sierra Club, Between the Waters, Ohio Brine Task Force, Ohio Poor Peoples Campaign, Sustainable Medina County, Coshocton Environmental and Community Awareness, Athens County’s Future Action Network, Radioactive Waste Alert, UU Justice Ohio, FaCT Ohio, NEOGAP, Concerned Ohio River Residents, Ohio Community Rights Network, FracTracker, Fresh Water Accountability Project, Columbus Community Bill of Rights, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Citizens Pollution Watch, Ashtabula County Water Watch, Ashtabula County Farmers Union, Ashtabula County Lighthouse & Restoration Society, Green Sanctuary Committee, Kent State Future Environmental Professionals Club, Trumbull County NAACP, Ashtabula County NAACP, and Ohio NAACP (collectively “Petitioners”).

Petitioners request that EPA initiate procedures to revoke Ohio’s Class II injection well program and initiate a rulemaking to implement a program that protects the people of Ohio and the environment and addresses the systematic public participation and environmental justice issues raised by this Petition.

Given the longstanding nature and seriousness of the deficiencies in Ohio’s program, including the harms to the environment and frontline communities, Petitioners request that EPA expedite the process of revoking Ohio’s authority over the Class II injection well program. We look forward to your response.