Fracking Waste Disposal Wells Spark Water Fears

Locals are fighting a proposed disposal well for fracking wastewater in Nebraska because they say it could put the local water supply in jeopardy.

"The plan for a commercial disposal well in western Nebraska for wastewater generated from out-of-state oil and natural gas production" has raised alarm bells across the state, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

In a letter dated April 16, top state lawmakers called for a pause on this plan. "Seven Nebraska senators, including the Speaker of the Legislature [Galen Hadley, a Republican,] have sent a signed letter to the director of the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (NOGCC) asking for an opportunity for the Legislature to 'examine the statutes governing the disposal of state wastewater before the State of Nebraska moves forward' and calling for the commission to postpone any further action," the Omaha Star Herald reported.

The letter says: “Nebraska’s water is a critical resource and the Legislature has responsibility to provide proper stewardship of the state’s natural resources. We have concerns that current statute does not provide the level of guidance and oversight that is necessary to ensure the safe disposal of wastewater of the magnitude envisioned in the Sioux County proposal.”

The legislature has been mulling this issue for a while. At a legislative hearing last month, lawmakers fielded major concerns about the plan. Opponents pushed for a moratorium on importing this kind of wastewater until regulations are in place to protect underground aquifers.

The deputy director of the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission said a moratorium would be devastating to the state’s economy because such disposal wells are a necessary and required piece of oil and gas production," the World-Herald reported.

Environmentalists also cited economic concerns when they spoke out against the plan. Ken Winston, a Sierra Club lobbyist, argued in favor of the moratorium. "He said the practice threatens the state’s agriculture-based economy and possibly leaves locals liable for cleaning up spills and accidents. He said the wastewater is toxic and hazardous. He questioned the Oil and Gas Commission’s ability to regulate the practice," the report said.

Industry pushed back against the moratorium. "Dana Wreath of Wichita, KS, a petroleum engineer and vice president of Berexco, an oil and gas exploration company that produces more oil in Nebraska than any other company, said opponents lack understanding of the industry," the report said.

The Omaha Journal Star editorial board recently spoke out against the plan. "The Nebraska Oil and Gas Commission should delay action on a controversial proposed disposal site for fracking wastewater in Sioux County," the editorial said.

"Nebraska’s regulatory system has not been updated for decades, and it certainly was not crafted to handle all the wastewater that is being created in the current fracking boom," the editorial said.

Nebraska is not alone in facing this issue. Wreath, the industry backer from Wichita, pointed out that Nebraska's regulations are similar to Kansas.

"He said Kansas has 16,000 disposal wells, and none has leaked and contaminated freshwater supplies. The first of Nebraska’s 600 disposal wells were put into use more than 50 years ago," he said, per the World-Herald.

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