FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 19, 2026
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ICYMI: Dr. Amy Acton Makes Appalachia Swing, Announces Support for 3-Year Moratorium on Wastewater Injection Wells in Washington County
COLUMBUS, OH– This week, Dr. Amy Acton visited communities across Southeast and Southern Ohio on an Appalachia tour. She spoke with Ohioans about her plans to make life more affordable and protect rural Ohio’s access to healthcare, education, and pathways to a brighter future.
Dr. Acton ended the tour by announcing her support for imposing a three-year moratorium on issuing additional permits for the drilling of wastewater injection wells and on the further injection of fracking wastewater in Washington County while the state conducts a thorough investigation on the impacts of wastewater migration.
See coverage below:
On the Airwaves:
On WOWK:
Anchor: “Ohio’s democratic candidate for governor, Dr. Amy Acton, visited the Buckeye Hills Career Center for a roundtable discussion with members of the Southeast Ohio community.”
Anchor: “Dr. Acton spoke to educators, students, and other public servants about her commitment to public schools and their access to funding. She added that it’s important to invest in the health and education of young people across Ohio, including those involved in trades and apprenticeships.”
Dr. Amy Acton: “We want to make sure our young people are ready, so workforce is top of mind for my administration.”
On WOWK:
Anchor: “Amy Acton making her way through parts of Appalachia today.”
Reporter: “Dr. Acton is using these 2 stops in Southeast Ohio to hear directly from the people that live and work in these communities. Her first stop was at the Buckeye Hills Career Center where the conversation centered in on students and their education. Now, she’s at Shawnee State University continuing that conversation.”
Reporter: “Much of that conversation was focused on her commitment to public schools and their access to funding. She added that investing in education and preparing young people for trades in the workforce is a top priority of her administration. Acton says… she’s hoping to promote more manufacturing jobs in Ohio.”
Dr. Amy Acton: “Well now is a great opportunity in Ohio, one of the great manufacturing states, so how do we get more people tracks… to the kind of job that gives you good wages and a good life.”
Reporter: “Acton says as she takes the approach to education from a lifelong learning perspective. She says that having affordable and accessible early childhood education is just as important as adult education.”
Reporter: “Dr. Acton says that visiting these communities across Ohio gives her a chance to listen and help solve problems.”
On WTAP:
Anchor: “Ohio democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton is throwing her support behind the Washington County residents who are demanding a pause on the underground injection of toxic fracking waste in their county.”
Anchor: “At a news conference in Marietta today, Acton announced her support for a three-year pause on new class two injection well permits and on injecting more wastewater into existing wells in the county.”
Anchor: “Most recently, dozens of people living in the Belpre area learned they’ll either lose gas service completely this winter or face unreliable service, a problem gas producer Bob Wilson attributes to brine migration in his wells. Acton is calling for immediate action.”
Dr. Amy Acton: “This is vitally, vitally important that we act now, and I’m calling on my colleagues in the Statehouse, I’m calling on everyone, to look deeply and do the right thing. As we enter this fall and this heating season in the winter, we must act to protect our resources and our drinking water. We must protect the next generation.”
On 90.3 WCPN:
Anchor: “Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton supports a pause on wastewater injection well permits amid debate in one Southeast Ohio county.”
Reporter: “The proposed three-year moratorium would stop new permits for drilling wastewater injection wells and pause active injection wells in Washington County. Acton says this would allow the state time to investigate the impact of wastewater migration.”
Reporter: “Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign didn’t comment, but some local Republican leaders have defended the injection well industry.”
In Print:
The New York Times: Toxic Fracking Waste Bubbling Up in Ohio Is Becoming a Political Issue
- The Democratic candidate for governor backed restrictions on disposal of fracking wastewater around a hard-hit town, and called for a “thorough investigation” of the dangers.
- On Thursday Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for governor in Ohio, pledged her support for a moratorium on this kind of fracking-wastewater disposal during a campaign stop in the town of Marietta, Ohio, where the water has been resurfacing, alarming the community.
- The leaks are “destroying local businesses and potentially contaminating Marietta’s drinking water,” said Dr. Acton, a physician who formerly led the Ohio Department of Health. “This poses a serious threat to the safety and quality of life.”
- Dr. Acton called for a three-year moratorium on permits for injection wells in Washington County, where Marietta is and a halt on further injection there while Ohio regulators conduct a “thorough investigation” on the effects of underground wastewater migration.
- The announcement comes as residents, public officials and water-system administrators in the rural county have urged state leaders to halt the practice, which they say threatens the drinking water sources for 32,000 people. “In Marietta, we have a chance to prevent the worst from happening, and we need to act now,” Dr. Acton said Thursday, pointing to a potential billion-dollar cleanup.
- “This is not an anti-energy position. It is a pro-drinking-water position,” said Susan Vessels, a Republican and the president of the Marietta City Council, appearing alongside Dr. Acton.
WSYX: Acton visits local career center, calls Ramaswamy a ‘serial liar,’ his ads ‘reckless’
- Acton, a Democratic candidate for governor, met with local officials, students and board members at a roundtable Wednesday before touring the Buckeye Hills Career Center and discussing workforce opportunities in southeast Ohio.
- During her visit, Acton also commented on health care access in Ohio and the importance of choices beyond the traditional four-year college path. She highlighted the career center’s hands-on programs in areas such as electrical work, diesel mechanics and health care, noting that workforce development remains a top priority for her administration.
WTAP: Acton backs three-year moratorium on Washington County injection wells
- Acton was joined at the news conference by Jessica Archer and Hillary Rosyter, members of Washington County for Safe Drinking Water, and by Marietta City Council President Susan Vessels.
- Vessels, a Republican, endorsed Acton for governor. She said Acton has demonstrated a willingness to learn about and take seriously an issue that is of vital importance to Vessels and many others in Washington County.
- “Her taking a stance and studying this issue — her team has studied the issues, have read our moratorium resolutions and learned about the situation that Washington County is in and decided that this is something important . . . I think that that’s a really, really encouraging move, to have somebody at this level of government say, yes, we hear you, and we can help,” Vessels said.
- WTAP asked for clarification on what Ramaswamy’s views are on the issue, but did not receive any additional response.
Columbus Dispatch: Amy Acton backs pause on new permits for wells storing fracking waste
- … Acton made a campaign stop Sept. 17 in the southeastern Ohio county.
- “The help we are asking for boils down to one simple rule: do not allow oilfield waste injection near public drinking water aquifers,” said Marietta City Council President Susan Vessels, who has been vocally opposed to having injection wells placed near city aquifers.
- “This is not an anti-energy position,” Vessels told The Dispatch. “It is a pro-drinking water position, and it should be easy for any Ohio leader to support.”
Marietta Times: Acton pledges three-year injection well moratorium
- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton pledged to halt new permits for wastewater injection wells and further wastewater injections in Washington County for three years if elected, calling for an investigation into wastewater migration.
- …[Dr. Amy Acton] made the commitment during a press conference at Ohio Riverfront Park in Marietta alongside members of Washington County for Safe Drinking Water and Marietta City Council President Susan Vessels.
- “Three years is for a reason,” Acton said. “We must do the kind of comprehensive studies that will let us know that we’re making the right decisions as a community and as a state.”
- Acton also said she opposes fracking on public lands and in parks. Asked how she would make the ODNR more responsive to residents, she said she would expect agency leaders to listen to communities and work with officials from both parties.
Ironton Tribune: Acton tours SSU campus
- Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dr. Amy Acton stopped at Shawnee State University on Wednesday, where she was given a tour of campus and met with faculty and students.
- In Portsmouth, Acton began the day with a guided tour of campus, where she visited several departments, including the history department…
- The students seemed enthusiastic to speak with the candidate.
- “It’s an honor to meet you and I’ll be voting for you,” one woman told her, getting a thank you from Acton.
- Acton was asked about her visits to southern Ohio, a place where Democrats have not fared well electorally in recent years.
“This is an opportunity in this watershed moment to heal what has been broken,” she said of political discourse. “I’ll work with anyone. I don’t agree with everyone on every issue, but I will work with them. I know we can get things done.”
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