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Substance leaks from wellpad tanker

CADIZ — A tanker trailer hauling a substance from a western Jefferson County wellpad leaked along several county roads and U.S. Route 22 Saturday.

The substance, oil-based mud pumped out of a frack well, originated from the Dalrymple well site at 5584 county Road 10, Adena, said Eric Wilson, Harrison County’s emergency management agency director.

He said the tank leaked wherever the material in it would slosh around, meaning spills occurred when the truck climbed or drove down hills, went around curves or stopped.

He said the spills began along Jefferson County Road 10 and township Road 120 in Jefferson County, then moved into Harrison County along county Road 12. At the intersection of county Road 12 and Rose Valley Road, the substance spilled into Rose Valley Creek. The truck continued onto Harrison County Road 13 and eventually made its way onto U.S. Route 22. The Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped the vehicle at Cadiz but said it was not leaking at that point.

Wilson said the well pad is being operated by Ascent Resources.

He and Jefferson County 911 Director Robert Herrington said Sunpro Services responded from its Steubenville location to clean up the spills and help with the creek cleanup.

Wilson said the amount of the oil-based mud that made its way into the creek wasn’t known because of the time between the spill and the arrival of emergency responders. Firefighters put absorbent pads down, and booms were used to try to capture the spill. Wilson said the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department was notified around 3 p.m.

Wilson said the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was contacted and is monitoring the creek to be sure there are no long-lasting effects.

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department received reports of a car that slid in the substance, and Wilson said there were many reports of the substance getting on vehicles. He said the Harrison County Highway Department responded with a spreader truck of sand to make sure the roads weren’t slippery.

Herrington said the Adena Fire Department responded from Jefferson County. Harrison County responders included fire units from Cadiz, Hopedale, Jewett and Scio, Wilson said.

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