Data Reveals Discrepancies Between Reported Oil and Gas Incidents in Ohio and Industry Claims

This media release is crossposted from FracTracker Alliance.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An analysis by FracTracker Alliance has determined more than 1,400 oil and gas incidents have occurred in Ohio in the last five years, refuting claims made by an industry representative in September 2023 about the number of oil and gas incidents in the state since 2010.

“This analysis disproves misleading statements made by Ohio Oil and Gas Association President Rob Brundrett in a news interview alongside Carroll County Commissioner Robert Wirkner suggesting that no ‘real’ oil and gas incidents have occurred in Ohio,” said Gwen Klenke, FracTracker’s Midwest program coordinator and report author. “Data show the total number of oil and gas incidents in the state, and their level of severity, has been grossly misrepresented.”

FracTracker Alliance is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that studies, maps, and communicates the risks and impacts of oil, gas, and petrochemical development.

A comprehensive analysis of data obtained through a public records request made to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) indicates more than 1,500 oil and gas incidents occurred in Ohio from 2018 through early September of 2023. Of these, approximately 100 records were omitted from the analysis due to missing or incomplete data. Key findings of the analysis:

• More than 1,400 oil and gas incidents have occurred in Ohio in the last five years. 
• Roughly 10 percent of incidents were reported as fires or explosions. There were also more than 1,000 reported instances of gas releases.
• Data provided by ODNR shows incident reports included frequent errors and omissions. There were also significant discrepancies between incident reports.
• Oil and gas incident reports in Ohio are not readily accessible to the public, underscoring the critical need for increased data transparency. 

Jenny Morgan, a preschool teacher and steering committee member of Save Ohio Parks and longtime member of the Ohio Brine Taskforce, initiated the records request based on statements that were made in a Sept. 20, 2023, WOSU All Sides interview with Ohio Oil and Gas Association President Rob Brundrett and Carroll County Commissioner Robert Wirkner. According to Brundrett, the oil and gas industry “has not had any real instances environmentally” related to fracking in Ohio. 

However, Morgan says that the analysis by FracTracker Alliance spells out how accident-prone the oil and gas industry is, refuting Brundett’s claim about the frequency and severity of oil and gas incidents.

“This is terrifying,” said Morgan, pointing to evidence that shows oil and gas drilling is rife with radioactive waste, dangerous chemicals and volatile organic compounds. “One spill of toxic brine waste, of which the data shows there are many, could deposit radioactive waste onto a road, and into a waterway, impacting drinking water supplies. I’m sure these facts would gravely concern the average citizen. Maybe that’s why the industry seemingly goes out of its way to underplay its incidents.”

Klenke said the data obtained from ODNR also shows that reports failed to accurately reflect the severity of incidents. For example, according to one report, a house explosion resulting in five injuries was not classified as “major” or “severe” based on the agency’s reporting criteria. The discrepancies in reporting, as well as an overall lack of public transparency, are heightening concerns about government and corporate accountability and whether agencies like ODNR are acting to protect the public interest, she added.

“The public must be given easy access to this important information so people can truly understand the risks, especially now that our Ohio leaders seem determined to bring this industry to more and more of our public spaces,” Morgan said. “Save Ohio Parks wants ODNR to improve its record keeping and make a place on its agency website for an interactive gas and oil accident map similar to what FracTracker has done here.”

According to five years of data obtained from reports made to ODNR, oil and gas incidents are not isolated events in the state. The trend suggests similar incidents are highly likely to recur and could result in lasting impacts. As oil and gas lease agreements continue to be considered for approval throughout Ohio, there is a critical need for accurate and transparent public information to protect communities and the environment.

To see the FracTracker map of ODNR accidents reported throughout Ohio over the past five years, visit https://bit.ly/3wRuVaL.

To learn more about Save Ohio Parks, the statewide, all-volunteer group concerned about fracking Ohio’s state parks and public lands, visit https://www.saveohioparks.org.

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FracTracker Alliance is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that studies, maps, and communicates the risks and impacts of oil, gas, and petrochemical development. For more information about this report, contact FracTracker Alliance Midwest Program Coordinator Gwen Klenke at klenke@fractracker.org. 

Save Ohio Parks is a state-wide, all-volunteer group concerned about fracking under Ohio’s state parks and public lands. For more information, visit https://www.saveohioparks.org.