July 10, 2018: the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) announced an unprecedented unilateral order in response to Energy Transfer’s fracked gas Rover Pipeline’s 27 violations. The announcement comes after ETP Rover had more spills last week near the Tuscarawas River.
OEPA’s unilateral order includes requiring Energy Transfer to establish a stronger contingency plan for when disasters occur; removal and proper disposal of the diesel spilled in quarries near Massillon and Canton as well as along the Tuscarawas; groundwater monitoring near the multiple spill sites; and to create a remediation plan for the spill of more than 2 million gallons of clay and diesel fluid in a rare high-quality wetland in Stark County. Additionally, the OEPA referred the nearly $1 million in fines to the state’s Attorney General. In today’s press conference, the OEPA stated that it is prepared to defend this unilateral order in state and federal courts, if ETP Rover would challenge their authority to protect Ohioans’ rights to clean air, water, and land.
Read the official press release here.