Ohio officials reportedly notified oil and gas companies that if a company stores over 10,000 pounds of hazardous chemicals at a well, the company must disclose the types of chemicals to the local emergency-planning committee and fire department within 90 days. According to reports, the notice stated that federal right-to-know laws trumped a 2001 Ohio law that required oil and gas companies to inform only the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which maintained a central database of this information. Now, a list of toxic chemicals used by shale drillers must be available to local firefighters, emergency personnel, government officials, and residents who request the information. The law is intended to provide local firefighters and emergency personnel with the tools required to effectively manage any emergencies, such as a fire, that may occur at a well. The federal law does not require oil and gas companies to disclose chemicals that are trade secrets.
The Columbus Dispatch report may be found at: http://www.dispatch.com/
Written by: Tom Panighetti
October 2, 2013
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