Marietta council advances moratorium push on injection wells after sustained public outcry

Marietta City Council heard hours of public comment Wednesday on newly introduced resolutions that would broaden local review of injection wells and authorize legal action challenging state permitting practices.

Councilors introduced Resolution 79 to form a committee to study proposed injection wells and amended it to expand the scope beyond a single site, and Resolution 80 to authorize legal challenges — including mandamus — related to the Stevens/Stefan well and to urge the Ohio legislature to impose a three‑year moratorium on new injection permits. The sponsor told the council the city lacks authority to impose a moratorium locally and is seeking statewide action.

The resolutions drew a steady line of speakers during the public‑comment period. Kristen Robinson, the former watershed coordinator for Friends of the Lower Muskingum River, urged residents to contact state representatives and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Several residents recounted local incidents they said showed brine migration from injection wells into production wells, and multiple speakers pressed ODNR to explain why some permits appear to be governed by older permitting rules for issuance while operations would be governed by newer rules.

Public commenters cited specific concerns and numbers: Washington Morgan Community Action reported 572 applicants on its housing waiting list during an earlier presentation; members of a citizens group said Washington County already has 17 injection wells and more than 11 million gallons of brine injected locally. Several speakers pointed to a past ODNR investigation (the Redbird No. 4 matter) and alleged delays in agency response to documented migration events.

Speakers also raised technical questions about permits and inspections, noting one well was originally permitted to inject at 980 psi and later had permitted pressure increased to 1,050 psi; commenters said that change affected failure‑rate calculations reported in ODNR filings. The record included written communications urging a multi‑front legal and political strategy against ODNR and Deep Rock Disposal, and a statement from Commissioner James Booth supporting a pause in new injection activity until outstanding concerns are resolved.

Council members said they had sought information from ODNR staff and that one councilor had already initiated an administrative action. The council amended Resolution 79 to cover proposed class‑1 and class‑2 wells countywide and discussed expanding the legal authority in Resolution 80 beyond a single writ of mandamus so the law director could pursue appropriate legal remedies.

Next steps: Resolutions were introduced and discussion continued; the council did not adopt a moratorium at Wednesday's meeting but moved to expand review and options available to the city, and encouraged residents to continue contacting ODNR and state legislators.