Marietta resident urges moratorium on injection wells, raises concerns about Waterford data center

Barbara Stewart, a Marietta resident, submitted a written statement during public comment at the Washington County commissioners' March 26 meeting urging the board to declare a moratorium on new Class I and Class II injection wells and to meet with the public about the Waterford data center.

Stewart said the county has facilitated development that would allow brine transport into the area and called attention to the risks of brine migration. "It is far past time for you to declare a moratorium on drilling any new Class I or Class II injection wells," she wrote, and she named DeepRock Disposal as a company that she said would profit from county-facilitated transport.

Jesse Roush, representing the Port Authority, said false statements had been made at a local meeting and urged people to "seek facts and understand issues." John Whistler asserted that the Secretary of State website showed Foster Families donated to Commissioner Eddie D. Place's campaign; Commissioner Charlie L. Schilling said that claim was false. Flite Freimann, Director of Job & Family Services, clarified on the record that Commissioner Place donated to Foster Families, not the reverse.

The meeting record shows these comments were received as public input; no board action or policy changes were taken during the session in response to the requests. The transcript reflects community concern about injection wells, data center tax-exemption discussions and local labor commitments for construction, but does not record any new county directive or formal inquiry into the specific allegations raised.

The board adjourned at 9:59 a.m.; speakers who submitted written statements may pursue follow-up with county staff or future meetings as needed.