Investigation: Chemical waste being hauled to Ohio

ASHTABULA COUNTY, Ohio - Chemical waste is being hauled into Ohio from Pennsylvania amid concerns that it could impact water supplies after it's disposed into a growing number of underground injection wells.

And Monroe Township, in Ashtabula County, is just one location where residents fear it will be taken and disposed.

• INTERACTIVE MAP: Find out where the chemical waste from Pennsylvania is being disposed of in Ohio.

Chuck Riley has lived in Ashtabula County all his life and says an injection well is now under construction -- just a-mile-and-a-quarter from the Pennsylvania state line.

"The drilling industry and producers are dumping on Ohio," said Riley.

It's the by-product of widespread drilling for natural gas across the Ohio state line where more than 1,000 wells have been drilled so far this year in Pennsylvania . The region contains what is known as " Marcellus Shale " and considered to be the largest natural gas deposit in the country.

Natural gas producers are required to dispose of the fluid that's a by-product of what the drilling industry calls "Hydraulic Fracking." It involves millions of gallons of water -- along with a long list of chemicals -- that are pumped at high pressure deep in shale formations to loosen up gas deposits.

"It would take a serious chemist to know everyting that was in there," said Riley, referring to the "fracking fluid" used in the drilling process.

So our 5 On Your Side Investigation obtained a long list of chemicals known to be used during "hydraulic fracking." The list was obtained from the Pennsylvnia Department of Environmental Protection.

We found dozens of chemcials including trimethylbenzene, toulene, xylene and formaldehyde.

Dr. Dan Volz is one of the nation's leading experts on Marcellus Shale and the fluid used in the drilling  process.

"It's not water, it's a highly contaminated fluid," said Volz.

But in Ohio, we found the same state agency that protects Ohio's wildlife, parks and rivers is also charged with regulating underground injection wells.

Tom Tomastick, who oversees the injection-well program , insists they are safe.

Under a recently passed state law, Ohio is taxing the waste by-product and hopes to raise up to $800,000 in revenue. Some of that will pay for additional inspectors.

"We've had no subsurface contamination leaks from injection wells," said Tomastick.

Yet in Pennsylvania, residents are demading a moratorium on natural gas drilling and are convinced the "fracking fluid" by-product has ruined their land and water supplies.

Ron Gulla owns a farm in Hickory, Pa., where more than 300 natural gas wells have already been drilled.

"You're at big risk. Big risk," said Gulla, referring to millions of gallons of fluid being hauled into Ohio and disposed.

Gulla said his farmland was ruined and cattle and deer killed.

Meanwhile, some Pennsylvania residents are calling for a moratorium on drilling and New York has already approved a temporary halt.

In Ohio, we found there are 170 deep-injection wells and, according to the state, "We have more permits being issued than ever before."

A spokesperson for the Marcellus Shale Coalition says it's recylcing at least 70 percent of the drilling fluid and that "advancements in technology will continue to reduce overall water demands and the need for underground injections".

Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is investigating the impact of drilling and fluids on underground water supplies, as well as asking producers to identify all chemicals used in the process.