Commissioners in Elk County passed a resolution Tuesday morning at their regularly scheduled meeting in opposition to injection disposal wells. 

Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing an application for Seneca Resources.

The oil and gas company is looking to inject wastewater fluids into a Class II-D well. 

Elk County commissioner, Dan Freeburg said the commissioners are hopeful the resolution will show the EPA that they are strongly against this type of well. 

"We're not convinced that this is something that is just a given, that it isn't going to be a safe and reliable solution to disposal," he said. 

Seneca Resources has drilled a number of wells in Elk County. 

Rob Boulware, manager of stakeholder relations at Seneca Resources told 6 News that if a permit is issued, they plan to use an existing well to inject fluids. 

"This is a old abandoned well that is no longer in use. Based off of the formation that we were getting natural gas from, the rock has an absorbability that can be useful in the form of an injection well," Boulware said. 

The well Seneca Resources is hoping to use as an injection well is in Highland Township, near James City.

Boulware said the well was drilled in 2007. 

"We absolutely fear that the number of wells and abandoned wells here in Elk County coupled with the sparseness of population could make it an attractive source to dump this fluid," Freeburg said. 

While the resolution will present the county's opposition toward injection wells, it will not prevent a permit from being issued. It also will not prevent the company from injecting fluid should they receive a permit. 

Freeburg said they believe a resolution is the best way to show the EPA that they are strongly against the the proposed well, and any future injection wells in Elk County. 

"It's something that we decided to take this stance because much concern is out there, and we believe it's valid or we wouldn't be taking the stance we are," Freeburg said. 

The public hearing is scheduled for Dec.11. The meeting will be held at the fire hall in Highland Township, James City at 7 p.m.