Council Approves Resolution Against Brine Water
Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram
17 October 2009
By Billy Wolfe, Staff Writer
CLARKSBURG — Members of Clarksburg City Council voted in favor of a
resolution Thursday night supporting the termination of the brine-water
disposal program.
The resolution asks that the city Sanitary Board never resume the
program, which has been suspended since August.
The state Department of Environmental Protection has discouraged
publicly owned treatment works from disposing of brine water, and the
Clarksburg Water Board also passed a resolution this week opposing the
program.
As previously reported, the city was receiving about $300,000 a year to
dilute some 40,000 gallons of the industrial byproduct every day at the
city’s wastewater treatment plant. The diluted fluid was then being
dumped into the West Fork River.
The program was suspended after the DEP issued a lengthy set of
requirements the city would have to meet in order to receive a permit
for the program.
A private contractor had also leased property from the sanitary board
to store the fluid near the treatment plant. Earlier this year, council
gave its approval to the land lease.
City Attorney Greg Morgan said the company could still store the fluid
on site to later be injected into disposal wells, but that no more
brine water or hydrofraccing fluid will be treated at the plant.
“If they so choose, they can also pack up their things and leave,”
Morgan said, adding that the contractor would have to “leave the
property as they found it,” according to the lease agreement.
Councilman Jim Hunt called for the resolution at council’s last regular
meeting. He cited a number of media reports showing the possible
environmental risks posed by brine water.
Hunt also asked that the resolution be amended to state that the city
is severing its name from any agreements regarding the program.
It is highly unlikely the sanitary board will decide to resume the
program. Morgan said the treatment plant will not be able to meet the
requirements imposed by the DEP. Plant Superintendent Bill Goodwin has
said the water testing required by the DEP alone would costs thousands
of dollars every month.
Council members Martin Shaffer and Mary Mayer said they are glad that
council passed the resolution, but said they wished council had been
informed about the program before the sanitary board allowed it to
begin.
“We failed the citizens when we weren’t talking about it before,”
Shaffer said.
Mayor Margaret Bailey said she hopes the program will help shed light
on the issues surrounding the disposal of oil and gas wastewaters. The
state still has not set a standard for the levels of total dissolved
solids allowed in public waterways.
Council also:
* Received an annual report and financial statements from the Greater
Clarksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.
* Approved the appointment of Dr. Nancy L. Joseph as the new medical
officer for the Harrison-Clarksburg Health Department.
* Approved the city of Bridgeport’s recommended appointment of Mario
Blount to the CENTRA board.
Staff writer Billy Wolfe can be reached at (304) 626-1404 or by e-mail
at bwolfe@exponent-telegram.com