A spill of drilling fluids in Ohio has turned wetlands near the Tuscarawas River into a muddy mess. According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, construction crews kept working even as 2 million gallons covered 6.5 acres in Stark County. Photo: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
The company behind the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline is under fire in Ohio for spilling millions of gallons of drilling fluid into wetlands in Ohio. Independent journalist Mary Annette Pember reports on the latest crisis involving Energy Transfer Partners, a billion-dollar company that's balking at $431,000 in fines:
Ohioans are experiencing a little taste of Standing Rock, right at home. Energy Transfer Partners (ETP), the Texas company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) project in North Dakota, has spilled about two million of gallons of drilling materials in two separate accidents into two of Ohio’s few remaining wetlands in a rush to complete its Rover natural gas pipeline. The accidents occurred on April 13 and 14 as workers employed the same drilling technique used to bore beneath the Missouri River to place pipeline for the DAPL. According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the spill covered about 500,000 square feet and was caused by pressure during drilling. Incidents such as these are what fuel pipeline resistance, as environmentalists and tribal members pointed out. “Energy Transfer Partners has dumped millions of gallons of a milkshake-like substance into pristine wetlands,” said Jenn Miller, director of the Sierra Club of Ohio. “This will have massive impacts on the plant, fish and amphibian species there.” One-third of Ohio’s endangered species rely on wetlands for habitat and survival, Miller said.Read More on the Story:
Mary Annette Pember: ETP Spills Two Million Gallons of Drilling Material in Ohio (Indian Country Today 5/11)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Dakota
Access Pipeline won't be fined for oil spill in South Dakota (5/11) Dakota Access firm fined $431K for two spills of drilling fluids in Ohio (5/9)
President Trump's second nominee for Army Secretary withdraws (5/8)
Native Sun News Today: The evolution of a protest at Standing Rock (5/8)
Native Sun News Today: Tracking millions raised for Standing Rock (5/2)
Indigenous activists reclaim nation's capital in defiance of Trump (4/28)
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe ends appeal in Dakota Access lawsuit (4/28)
Native Sun News Today: Runners from Standing Rock head to Ohio (4/28)
Indigenous activists make presence known for climate march in DC (4/27)
Dakota Access firm faces fines for two spills of drilling fluid in Ohio (4/27)
Support for Standing Rock Sioux Tribe leads to recall in Alaska city (4/26)
Dakota Access Pipeline announces May 14 as first date of service (4/19)
Native Sun News Today: Answers sought on Dakota Access Pipeline (04/12)
Judge agrees to keep some Dakota Access spill information secret (04/07)
Critic of #NoDAPL encampment convicted of sexually abusing minor (4/7)
Native reporter Jenni Monet wins award for work at Standing Rock (4/6)
Lawmakers ask Army Corps to explain decision on Dakota Access (4/6)
Native Sun News Today: Tribes focus on banks, courts in DAPL fight (4/5)
Ray Cook: Unity lost after #NoDAPL camps close in North Dakota (3/29)
Trump boasts about approvals for Dakota Access and Keystone XL (3/28)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe acknowledges 'setback' in pipeline war (3/28)
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe continues to battle pipeline in court (3/28)
Dakota Access confirms pipeline about to go into service with oil (3/27)
Sarah Van Gelder: Huge bank divests from Dakota Access Pipeline (3/27)
Tiffany Midge: There's a happy ending for Standing Rock out there (3/27)
Tribes mount another fight after Trump approves another pipeline (3/24)
Rosalyn LaPier: Why water remains sacred to indigenous peoples (3/23)
Winona LaDuke: North Dakota spreads filth about water protectors (3/23)
Dakota Access submits another status update entirely under seal (3/22)
North Dakota Republican keeps pushing bill for non-Indian casinos (3/21)
Dakota Access won't reveal latest status of pipeline to the public (3/20)
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe sees another Dakota Access setback (3/20)
National Museum of American Indian expresses 'regret' for incident (3/17)
Native Sun News Today: 'We're still here and we're not going away'(3/17)
Options dwindling for tribes as Dakota Access readies to move oil (3/13)
Native citizens rally in nation's capital to send message to Trump (3/10)
Recap: Thousands march to White House for Native Nations Rise (3/10)
Recap: Large crowd for Native Nations Rise rally at White House (3/10)
Dakota Access defends effort to keep oil spill documents secret (3/9)
Native Sun News Today: Water protectors take DAPL fight to DC (3/9)
Ivan Star Comes Out: Water protectors experienced raw trauma (3/9)
Judge refuses to halt Dakota Access as pipeline nears completion (3/7)
Dakota Access revises timeline after making 'very good progress' (3/6)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe leads Native Nations Rise march in DC (3/6)
Award-winning group raises funds for Water Protector legal fund (3/6)
Ruling expected this week on injunction against Dakota Access (3/6)
Dakota Access trying to keep documents from tribes and public (3/2)
Senate confirms Dakota Access ally to lead Energy Department (3/2)
Bill to approve non-Indian casinos in North Dakota called 'racist' (3/2)
North Dakota gains financially with completion of Dakota Access (3/2)
Native Sun News Today: Evictions end historic #NoDAPL campsite (3/1)
Winona LaDuke: Water protectors are still standing strong all over (3/1)
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe waiting on Dakota Access injunction (2/28)
Peter d'Errico: Yankton Sioux Tribe battles Dakota Access in court (2/28)
Sioux Nation citizens seek to join Dakota Access Pipeline lawsuit (2/27)
Dakota Access files another status update on construction work (2/27)
Mark Trahant: The story of Standing Rock won't be going away (2/27)
Jenni Monet: Tribes continue fight as #NoDAPL camps evicted (2/27)
Albert Bender: The war against Dakota Access can still be won (2/27)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe blasts Trump claim of 'constant contact' (2/24)
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe calls out Trump 'lies' on Dakota Access (2/24)
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe slams Trump for lack of consultation (2/23)
Indian Country joins legal push to block Dakota Access Pipeline (2/22)
Dakota Access offers up March 6 as earliest date for completion (2/22)
Trump administration opposes injunction against Dakota Access (2/22)
Trump team puts hold on pro-tribal Dakota Access legal opinion (2/22)
Native Sun News Today: #NoDAPL campsites see their final days (2/22)
Elizabeth Cook-Lynn: Dakota Access is everything wrong with US (2/22)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe hopes to see return of casino business (2/21)
Dina Gilio-Whitaker: Sen. Hoeven raises red flags in Indian Country (2/20)
Bureau of Indian Affairs issues 'trespass' notice to #NoDAPL camp (2/17)
Hearing on injunction against Dakota Access moved to February 28 (2/17)
Army Department formally cancels Dakota Access Pipeline review (2/16)
Native Sun News Today: Dakota Access firms see spills, explosions (2/16)
James Giago Davies: Tribes face bigger threat than Dakota Access (2/16)
Monte Mills: Tribes turn to courts to battle Dakota Access Pipeline (2/16)
Standing Rock leader vows to 'forgive' despite White House slight (2/15)
Freedom Socialist: Voices from water protectors at Standing Rock (2/15)
New leader of key House panel defends handling of Dakota Access (2/14)
Dakota Access ready to start transporting oil sooner than expected (2/13)
More tribes join effort to halt completion of Dakota Access Pipeline (2/13)
Army Corps gave go ahead to Dakota Access Pipeline in key memo (2/13)
Mark Trahant: Battle over Dakota Access Pipeline is far from over (2/13)
Tribes head back to court in hopes of halting Dakota Access Pipeline (2/10)
Dakota Access pushes to finish pipeline with Army Corps easement (2/9)
Mark Charles: The real reason Trump hasn't heard about #NoDAPL (2/9)
James Giago Davies: Dakota Access battle has got us divided again (2/9)
Tribes promise fight to keep Dakota Access Pipeline out of homeland (2/8)
Key Dakota Access document from Army Corps wasn't filed in court (2/8)
J. Gabriel Ware & James Trimarco: City breaks with bank over DAPL (2/8)
Tracy Loeffelholz Dunn: In defense of Native journalist Jenni Monet (2/8)
Chelsey Luger: Media is still trying to divide and conquer our people (2/8)
Peter d'Errico: Even Donald Trump can't trample over tribal treaties (2/8)
Andrea Carmen/Roberto Borrero: Trump's slash and burn on treaties (2/8)
Trump administration formally approves easement for Dakota Access (2/7)
Mark Trahant: Native journalist charged by North Dakota authorities (2/7)
Albert Bender: Donald Trump goes blitzkrieg on #NoDAPL movement (2/7)
Dakota Access offers timeline as Trump finalizes decision on pipeline (2/6)
Ladonna Bravebull Allard: Indigenous nations must stand our ground (2/6)
Jenni Monet: I got arrested for reporting on the #NoDAPL movement (2/6)
Ray Cook: Now it is time for all of us to stand down at Standing Rock (2/6)
Frances Madeson: More tribes joining with #DefundDAPL movement (2/3)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump's 'logic' on the Dakota Access Pipeline (2/1)
Winona LaDuke: Tribes emboldened by resistance at Standing Rock (2/1)
Native Sun News Today: Tribes push back on Trump's pipeline orders (2/1) Dakota Access firm ordered to stop some work on pipeline in Ohio (5/11)
