It’s likely that this happens more than we care to know.
From Environment News Service:
Texas Firm Indicted for Disposing Hazwaste Underground
HOUSTON, Texas, November 20, 2007 (ENS) – The owner of a hazardous waste transport company and his operations manager face federal charges for their roles in a conspiracy to illegally transport and dispose of hazardous waste underground. Their alleged misuse of an underground injection well may have contaminated drinking water.
The men were arraigned Friday in U.S. District Court in Houston. They are charged with 14 felony counts including conspiracy, violating the Safe Drinking Water Act and violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which regulates storage, transportation and disposal of hazardous wastes.
The cliff note version: They dump hazardous waste into class II injection wells because it saves money.
This happens in the Barnett Shale area. Neighbors have witnessed Class I waste trucks dumping their waste into Class II wells but it’s almost impossible for regular citizens to prove.
Update: I just remembered this recent Star-Telegram article by Mike Lee
In 2006, the Railroad Commission fined another Wise County injection well operator $4,000. Investigators said the operator dumped water from a firefighting operation and “25 barrels of an unknown chemical” into an injection well.
Reading the latest about these professional polluters.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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WHAT DO YOU KNOW OR WHAT CAN YOU TELL EVERYONE ABOUT THE INJECTION WELL AT THE EAST 1ST STREET DRILL SITE? This site is located at the foot of Oakland Blvd off Oakland & Highway 30