Home / Environment / Environmental Group Sues Ohio Over Permits for Hazardous Waste Disposal Near Drinking Water
Environmental Group Sues Ohio Over Permits for Hazardous Waste Disposal Near Drinking Water
13 Nov
Summary
- Lawsuit filed against Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources over approval of 2 new injection wells
- Wells located less than 2 miles from city's drinking water source
- Concerns about toxic and radioactive waste contaminating environment and water
In a recent legal battle, the environmental justice organization Buckeye Environmental Network has sued the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) over its approval of two new oil and gas waste injection wells. The lawsuit, filed on November 7, 2025, challenges the ODNR's decision to permit the wells, which are located less than 2 miles from a city's drinking water source.
The organization argues that the ODNR approved the permits for the DeepRock Disposal Solutions' Stephan Number 1 and American Growers Number 4 wells under outdated, lax regulations that have since been replaced by stricter rules enacted in 2022. The new regulations aim to improve the safety and regulation of Class II disposal wells, such as requiring enhanced testing and clear decommissioning plans.
Buckeye Environmental Network and local community groups are deeply concerned about the potential for these injection wells to contaminate the environment and nearby water sources with toxic and radioactive waste. They point to past incidents of waste migration from similar wells in the region, which have spread contamination up to 5 miles from the original sites.
The lawsuit argues that the ODNR's decision to approve the permits under the old rules was unlawful and that the current, more protective regulations should have been applied. The environmental organization is now seeking to have the permits vacated and the ODNR required to review the applications under the updated rules.
