WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren OhioLocal township takes preventive measures against injection wells

Local township takes preventive measures against injection wells

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CENTER TOWNSHIP. Ohio - Whether they are large or small, some municipalities are taking or are considering taking action to ban at least one facet of the shale industry.

Center Township Trustees voted unanimously Thursday night in favor of a resolution that will ban the installation and operation of injection wells within the township's limits.

"We have had a couple calls, but we had one of our residents call and say that he heard they were going to put in an injection well in Center Township," said Center Township Trustee Joe Csonka.

After a six year battle to close down a landfill, Csonka and his fellow trustees are sending the message that Center Township is not a dumping ground.

"We know there are other means to get rid of this water and we don't want to take a chance on any of this polluted or contaminated water bothering anybody's wells," Csonka said.

The trustees are not opposed to shale drilling. In fact they just approved samples to be taken from a property on Crosser Road.

"We want drillers here and it's going to help us, the economy and so far they've been good with us," Csonka said.

Whether or not a local government has the power to ban injection wells remains to be seen. If it comes down to litigation, Csonka says it's a battle his township is willing to fight. He says this resolution is a first step.

"We're hoping this resolution that we're passing will deter anybody, at least let them know, that we're not going to welcome injection wells in Center Township," Csonka said.