Author: Pam Kasey

As millions of gallons of fracking “flowback” return to the surface in West Virginia, operators have increasingly shipped the heavy brine to Ohio for underground injection. According to state officials, disposal options remain limited, with only two permitted Class II wells handling waste locally. The logistical strain underscores a growing dilemma: while drilling accelerates across the Marcellus Shale, wastewater disposal infrastructure lags behind, raising questions about long-term environmental safeguards.