Drilling waste dumped in Ohio brings strong reaction

CLEVELAND - The Ohio Environmental Council Friday warned that a toxic by-product from natural gas drilling sites in Pennsylvania could cause harm after being disposed of in deep injection wells across Ohio.

The warning follows a 5 On Your Side investigation into chemical waste that is being hauled across the state line into Ohio. Use our interactive map to see where the waste is being deposited in Ohio.

Jack Shaner, Deputy Director of Legislative & Public Affairs for the Ohio Environmental Council called it a "mighty toxic by-product."

"It's like there's a statue of waste on our border over there in Pennsylvania," said Shaner.

He's referring to millions of gallons of water and chemicals used in the drilling process for natural gas. Once a well is drilled, producers are required to dispose of the toxic by-product.

In Ohio, there are more than 170 deep injection wells designed to store what called "hydraulic fracturing fluid."

"We're going to have millions -- billions -- of gallons of water that's tained with toxics," said Shaner.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition that represents the drilling industry strongly disagrees. It cites the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has found no evidence of groundwater contamination.

The group also cites engineering experts at two public universities who have found no environmental damage.

Still, the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection is completing a new study to determine if the fluid mixture is harmful to drinking water.