Austin Master Petition

Posted on: July 16, 2024

Liquid and solid waste from the gas and oilfields is currently being stored in a building near the municipal drinking water source for thousands of people in Martins Ferry, OH. The facility, Austin Master Services, processed the radioactivity from fracking waste throughout the region. The facility was ordered to cease accepting waste in March after there had been 10,000 tons of waste stored, while the permit only allows for 600 tons at a time. There is an ongoing lawsuit from the Ohio Attorney General. The AG’s office stated in March that there were “egregious violations of Ohio law” and that “the risk of overflow poses a significant threat to the surrounding area and to public health.” To make matters more concerning, there was flooding of the Ohio River in early April that brought flood water up to the front doors of the facility. The site is in a floodplain. This site should be cleaned up immediately as it is a Source Water Protection Area.