The Daily Digger

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From the Canton Repository: A temporary cement plant will be constructed in the first phase of Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations’ Utica shale regional hub at the Northeast Ohio Commerce Park. Beyond that, the company’s intentions are unknown, but one local official with an understanding of the company’s plans believes it is not a matter of if, but when, the Houston-based oil and gas service provider embarks on the $64 million facility it once intended to construct. The project has been scaled back steadily during the last year. When official details were unveiled by the state in late February, Baker Hughes planned to build a $40 million facility with an additional $24 million investment in machinery and site improvement and hire 700 employees over seven years. At the time, the company said the total commitment to Ohio would be $340 million. But documents from JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development arm, in early February provided to the city prior to Baker Hughes’ fo...

Coshocton Tribune:   Activity to begin on Apalachia-To-Texas Express Pipeline construction as early as next week Seeking Alpha:   Chesapeake Energy: $3.3 Billion Permian Asset Sale Disappoints Tribune Chronicle:   Drilling commences at Mahoning County well New York Times:   Fossil Fuel Industry Opens Wallet to Defeat Obama WKSU News:   To keep the boom from going bust, go midstream Columbus Business First:   Youngstown mayor wants to sell city's mineral rights to drillers Free Press Standard:   Lawsuit seeks to halt Atwood re-opening Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter! Follow @EnergyNewsBlog

From The Marietta Times: Highly radioactive wastewater from hydraulic fracturing operations in Pennsylvania could be making its way into Ohio's deep well injection sites, according to a report by the United States Geological Survey. Between 2009 and 2011, the USGS tested 52 samples of Marcellus shale wastewater, otherwise known as brine, from wells in Pennsylvania and New York. The resulting report, compiled in December, found that many of the samples contained radiation levels that would be 242 times higher than the federal safety limit for drinking water. Because Ohio does not have laws prohibiting the disposal of other states' hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," waste, Ohio accepts a significant amount of fracking waste from out of state. Last year, 54 percent of the 12.5 million barrels of brine disposed of in Ohio were from out of state, with quite a bit coming from Pennsylvania, said Heidi Hetzel-Evans, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Natural Re...

From the Free Press Standard: Carrollton Council members discussed pros and cons of an ordinance to sign a lease with Rex Energy Monday evening right up to roll call vote on the final reading.   Mayor Frank Leghart presented an emergency ordinance at the July 23 meeting, which was turned down by council, forcing the ordinance to go through three readings.  Second reading was held at the Aug. 27  meeting.   Councilman Dan Locke told members he needed to comment once more on village water.  “As far as lease goes, if something happens to our water supply or there is an environmental impact,” Locke said.  “They only have $5-million liability.  How can they replace our water system for that?”   Councilman Andy Gonda noted all attorneys who have visited with council regarding gas and oil leasing have stated they feel the village’s water supply is safer with a lease than without.  Gonda made the motion to accept the ordinance and Wilm...

Journalist's Resource has an article that highlights several of the recent reports released which attempt to shed light on some of the potential health impacts of fracking.  If you want to look at some of the recent studies and computer models that have been done on the subject in one easy to navigate place, it's a nice little article. Read the rundown by clicking here. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter! Follow @EnergyNewsBlog

From the Tribune Chronicle: Joining rallies across the nation Wednesday, at least 30 people turned out in Younstown for a protest against fracking. Keynote speaker Doug Shields, the former Pittsburgh City Council president who led the charge to ban the natural gas drilling process of hydraulic fracturing in that city, told the group that politicians need to stop passing legislation that favors corporations without being fully versed on the subject. "They say 'I believe this,' and 'I believe that.' Well, you can believe in anything you want, but when you're making public policy, you had ... better know," he said. Read the rest of the article here.  Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter! Follow @EnergyNewsBlog