Report details repeated violations at Dennison Disposal injection wells

A new report from the Buckeye Environmental Network alleges repeated environmental violations, delayed enforcement and worsening contamination at Dennison Disposal’s Class II injection well facility in Tuscarawas County over the course of a year.

According to the report, Ohio Department of Natural Resources inspectors documented ongoing releases of brine-impacted water, rising chloride levels and unresolved contamination issues at the site near Wolf Run and Little Stillwater Creek. Despite the violations, the report states no fines were issued, operations were not suspended and required remediation plans were never submitted.

The report says inspectors discovered Jan. 30, 2025, that all seven catch basin drains at the facility were open, allowing contaminated water to leave the site. Field tests showed elevated conductivity levels, with one basin registering an “over range” reading, indicating brine contamination flowing toward Little Stillwater Creek.

ODNR inspectors instructed the company to close the drains and remove contaminated water from the basins, but no enforcement action was taken at that time.

Two weeks later, inspectors again found violations and cited Dennison Disposal for releasing brine-impacted water into the environment. The company was directed to develop a stormwater management plan but was not fined.

Dennison Disposal later attributed the contamination to a failed sump pump seal and proposed a French drain system to collect contaminated water beneath the concrete liner. However, the report states chloride testing over the following months showed contamination levels continued to rise rather than improve.

According to the report, chloride levels in the French drain increased from 2,757 mg/L in April 2025 to 11,325 mg/L by January 2026, suggesting continued migration of brine into groundwater.

The report also details an April 24, 2025, inspection in which ODNR officials said they were asked to leave the property after arriving for an inspection.

The report claims ODNR requested a formal stormwater management plan in May 2025 with a 14-day deadline, but no plan was ever submitted. It further states inspectors conducted 78 inspections over the course of a year while compliance notices remained unresolved.

The report criticizes ODNR and Division of Oil and Gas Chief Eric Vendel for failing to use enforcement authority to suspend operations or penalize the company despite ongoing violations.

The report concludes the case reflects a pattern in which contamination was identified, persisted and worsened without meaningful enforcement action, raising concerns about groundwater and nearby waterways.