Rep. Brennan Requests Meeting with ODNR on Unanswered Questions from Trumbull County Contamination Event

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D–Parma) today formally requested a meeting with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to seek answers regarding unresolved questions tied to a 2015 oil and gas waste spill in Trumbull County.

The request follows renewed scrutiny of the incident by the Buckeye Environmental Network, which recently highlighted concerns about delayed reporting, regulatory oversight, and enforcement actions related to the Kleese Development Associates facility.

“This incident involved thousands of gallons of oil and gas waste entering nearby wetlands, with reporting delays and long-term environmental impacts that still raise serious concerns,” said Rep. Brennan. “While ODNR has outlined steps taken in response, the public deserves clear answers about what happened, what accountability measures were pursued, and what has changed to ensure this does not happen again.”

In his letter to ODNR Director Mary Mertz, Rep. Brennan outlined several key areas requiring clarification, including:

• The reported delay in notifying state officials of the spill;
• The decision not to pursue charges following findings of probable cause by federal authorities;
• Questions surrounding whether proper containment safeguards, such as liners, were in place;
• The extent of environmental and wildlife damage; and
• How this incident informed regulatory reforms to Ohio’s Class II injection well program.
   

Rep. Brennan emphasized that while regulatory updates were adopted in 2022, including strengthened oversight of brine disposal wells, it is critical to understand whether those changes fully address the gaps exposed by the 2015 event.

“As policymakers, we have a responsibility to ensure Ohio’s environmental protections are not only strong on paper, but effective in practice,” concluded Rep. Brennan. “Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public trust.”

Rep. Brennan has requested the meeting take place in the coming weeks and indicated he will continue monitoring the issue closely.