Ohio injection well operator appeals permit repeal
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A northeast Ohio injection-well operator whose former senior officer faces federal charges of violating the Clean Water Act is appealing an independent review board’s decision to uphold a state agency’s revocation of its permits.
Youngstown-based D&L Energy filed the appeal last week in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
Authorities allege the company’s former president Ben Lupo ordered an employee to repeatedly dump gas-drilling wastewater intended for an injection well into a storm sewer.
The company has maintained that Lupo wasn’t working for D&L during the alleged dumping incident and that he resigned as D&L’s president and relinquished control of his ownership stake in the company after being charged.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ oil and gas chief revoked D&L’s permits earlier this year and denied pending injection-well applications.