Associated Press Published

Mount Hope Bans Drilling Waste Disposal in Injection Wells

LochgellyDumpSiteJune2013.jpg

Mount Hope has banned disposing oil and gas drilling waste in injection wells that pump the material underground.

Mount Hope Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance prohibiting the disposal of drilling waste in injection wells within the town’s borders.

Mayor Michael Kessinger told The Register-Herald that the ordinance is in response to a disposal site in Lochgelly, which is less than 10 miles from the town.

Kessinger said he hasn’t been able to find out from state regulators whether it’s possible for waste at the Lochgelly site to infiltrate Mount Hope’s watershed.

Mount Hope’s ordinance is modeled after one adopted by Oak Hill.