Richfield Halts New Directional Drilling After Twinsburg Township Explosion

The Village of Richfield has placed a temporary moratorium on new directional drilling activities, Mayor Michael Wheeler announced in a letter dated July 13. The decision follows a natural gas explosion that occurred in Twinsburg Township on June 25 and destroyed or damaged dozens of homes. State officials are investigating the cause of the blast and are expected to share findings with local communities, including any new safety recommendations or regulations for directional drilling. Precaution While State Investigates Wheeler wrote that the safety of residents remains the village’s highest priority. He said the moratorium will stay in place until state findings are received and reviewed. “This is a precautionary measure to ensure that any future drilling is conducted using the latest safety standards and best practices,” Wheeler wrote in the letter. Officials said Richfield will continue updating residents as more information becomes available and will revisit the moratorium once state guidance is evaluated. Part of a Regional Response Richfield’s action follows similar moves by several other Northeast Ohio communities. Twinsburg, Green, Hudson, Stow, Kent and Macedonia have all announced pauses on directional drilling or underground utility work since the explosion. Investigators have said a work crew struck a gas line during drilling in the area, and the leak ignited a short time later, destroying three homes and damaging dozens more on Hiram Lane. The Ohio State Fire Marshal has been assisting with the investigation into what caused the blast. Richfield officials did not provide a timeline for when the moratorium might be lifted, saying only that it would remain in effect until state guidance is received.