Crackdown on fracking waste wells

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio Gov. John Kasich has issued an order immediately imposing new state regulations on deep-injection wells used to dispose of chemically-laced wastewater from oil and gas drilling.

The directive issued Tuesday gives the Ohio Department of Natural Resources temporary authority to implement a list of rules announced after a series of Youngstown-area earthquakes was tied to one such deep well.

Agency spokesman Carlo LoParo said a moratorium Kasich has placed on deep injection near the epicenter of the quakes remains in force.

Under the order, the state will have authority to order preliminary tests at proposed well sites, prevent drilling where tests fail, limit injection pressure and monitor for leakage.

The order is effective for 90 days, allowing lawmakers time to make rules permanent.