More Details on Brine Spill

February 7, 2013

State inspectors acting on an anonymous tip caught workers dumping drilling and "fracking" wastes down a storm drain at a Youngstown business on Jan. 31.

Documents the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency released late yesterday show Ohio Department of Natural Resources officials witnessed the dumping at 2761 Salt Springs Road. The spill, according to a federal report, could exceed 20,000 gallons.

An Ohio EPA notice of violation lists the dumped wastes as including oil-based mud, brine and brine residue. Brine is the term commonly used to describe water tainted with naturally occuring toxic metals, radium, salt and industrial chemicals used during fracking.

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