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Hearing on wastewater well application set for Tuesday

Public comment open to all

Next week, the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission will consider an application by a Colorado company to operate a saltwater disposal well in southwest Nebraska.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the commission office in Sidney, 922 Illinois St.

Terex Energy is seeking permission to inject wastewater produced through the hydraulic fracturing process into a well about 14 miles north of Mitchell.

According to its application, the proposed saltwater disposal well would be located on an 11-acre fenced and gated site.

Terex projects initially injecting 10,000 barrels per day of wastewater into the well, transported by an estimated 80 trucks per day. The site would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and Terex said the operation would create 10-15 jobs in the area.

“We expect to take produced water from Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado and could be accepting water from the Silo Field, the Wattenberg Fields and many other operations in the area in need of disposal facilities,” the application states.

The proposal has stirred controversy among residents in the area it would operate because of the increased truck traffic and the well’s proximity to the Ogallala aquifer.

The Nebraska chapter of the Sierra Club has launched a petition against the proposed wastewater well, and state Sen. John Stinner has proposed legislation to further define the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s function in regulating such sites.

Tuesday’s meeting is open to the public. Earlier, the commission announced only individuals residing within a half mile of the proposed wastewater well would be able to provide input. However, in a press release issued Thursday afternoon, it was a announced the public comment period would be open to all interested individuals and group representatives.

“Due to the interest of the public, a time for public comment will be afforded to individuals and group representatives prior to the public hearing of the [application],” the release states.

The time period for public input will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and comments will be limited to three minutes per person.

 

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