The operator of injection wells in Weathersfield Township is expected to file another legal challenge to a decision by a state commission that has kept one of those wells shut down since an earthquake in the area nearly two years ago.

The lengthy legal battle stems from a decision by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources ordering American Water Management Service to shut two deep brine injection wells along State Route 169 following a 2.1 magnitude earthquake on August 31, 2014.

A shallower well was permitted to be placed back in service, but AWMS was ordered to keep the deeper well out of service.

AWMS was denied an appeal of the ruling on the second well because the Ohio Oil and Gas Commission found the appeal was not filed within a thirty day time limit.

After challenging the decision through the lower court and an appeals court, AWMS is now being permitted to challenge the Oil and Gas Commission's decision in court.

AWMS has thirty days to file an appeal, which is expected to be filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources regulates class II wells, which are used to inject fluids, primarily oil-field brine, into deep, underground geological formations for disposal or for secondary oil recovery. Oil-field brine is a saline by-product generated during oil and gas well operations.

On December 31, 2011, a 4.0 magnitude earthquake was reported in Youngstown. Some research linked that tremor to a class II brine injection well which was closed as a result.

Earthquakes were reported in March 2014, when several tremors were recorded in the area of gas wells near the Carbon Limestone Landfill in Poland.

Five earthquakes were measured over the course of two days at that time.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey earthquakes of magnitudes between 1 and 3 are rarely felt by most humans.