Out-of-state frackers are dumping billions of gallons of waste in Ohio "disposal wells"

[CincyDem]

1. This has become a huge loophole for dumping "formerly toxic wastewater".

Look at this from the supply side.

A chemical plant runs a process that creates some quantity of waste water. In the past, the company had to catalog and report to the EPA all the chemical constituents of that water.

Now...they have a "NEW" product that they make at this chemical plant. It's called "ACME FRACKING FLUID". It's a "proprietary blend of surfactants and processing aides designed to preferentially improve fracking effectiveness and hydrocarbon recovery".

Sounds pretty good, eh? And when the EPA (or anyone else for that matter) asks "what's in your ACME FRACKING FLUID that you're pumping into our groundwater. The response - well, we can't (and don't have to) tell you because it's a trade secret.

What everyone knows is that this is the same waste water that was illegal to dump into surface ponds because it might contaminate ground water supplies. Now, thanks to some rebranding and trade secret laws, they can pump it directly into the groundwater aquifers, no need to wait for any seepage...just pump it right in. And, more importantly, instead of having to pay someone to haul away and decontaminate their waste water, these plants have a new profit center called fracking fluids.

As I saw somewhere recently - you think $100/barrel of oil is expensive? Just wait until fresh water costs more.