EcoWatch Journal February/March : Page 4

FRACKING OHIO—LACK OF REGULATION IMPACTS HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Of course, what the spokesperson doesn’t say is that the “rampant speculation” the company finds offensive has been driven by two things—earthquakes in a place where there were none before the injection of wastewater and the conclusion reached by Columbia University seismologist John Armbruster who told attendees at a January public hearing in Youngstown that the quakes were almost cer-tainly caused by the injections taking place at the well. In response, the D&L spokesperson said the company hoped its own, million-dollar study would provide differ-ent feedback. No kidding? For a million bucks I bet they could get someone to write a report that says the quakes are a figment of our collective imaginations. The good thing is no one outside of this industry is going to believe a word the report says. Unfortunately, the industry and its supporters in and out of government are having a much easier time convincing people that economic benefits of fracking outweigh its risks to the environment and public health. Seizing on the fact that the areas encompassed in the Marcellus and Utica shale fields are among the most economically depressed in the nation, the companies have been effective at portraying those of us who urge caution and reason as “tree hugging job killers” who care more about the environment than our constituents. I’ll concede that their argument is, on its face, compel-ling, even though it is based on data every bit as dubious as the industry’s claim that injection wells do not cause earth-quakes. Fracking is creating jobs, they say, and generating cash in the form of leases and royalties for local property owners who desperately need it. Interfere with the indus-try too much, place too many restrictions or, God forbid, regulations on it, and the drillers will disappear, taking their jobs and their checkbooks with them. This fear the industry has created, along with the cam-paign contributions they’ve made, explain why the ODNR is allowing 172 other injection wells to continue to operate in the state despite the concerns raised by the situation in the Mahoning Valley. It explains why Ohio, unlike other states, has refused to launch an intense investigation of the industry and its impact on the economy and the environ-ment. And it explains why the four bills that have been introduced in the Ohio General Assembly, including the two I authored, are languishing unheard in committee. In New York, for example, where there is a mora-torium on fracking, the Department of Environmental Conservation is about to digest nearly 40,000 comments it received about fracking as it prepares to issue rules govern-ing this industry. I am concerned about the long-term effects of frack-ing and want responsible development based on unbiased research, like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now completing. Responsible development that recognizes environmental safety and jobs are not mutually exclusive. Responsible development that produces safe, effective ways to deal with fracking waste based on new technology that creates green jobs to go along with those created in the shale fields. The reality is it may—and I emphasize the word may—be possible to frack for natural gas in an environ-mentally safe and responsible way. But we will only know for sure if the natural gas producers stop trying to impose their reality on us and agree to take the steps necessary to uncover the truth. Photos by Stefanie Penn Spear On Jan. 10, more than 250 Ohioans assembled on the steps of the Ohio Statehouse to voice their opposition to hydraulic fracturing and deep injection wastewater disposal wells. The rally was in response to 11 earthquakes that the Youngstown, Ohio region has experienced since March 2011 which experts are linking to the injection of high-pressure fracking wastewater into nearby wells. Radiant Infrared Electric Heat for All Applications! Indoor • Outdoor • Residential • Commercial • Industrial Solar Financing That’s Right for You Get instant credit approval with zero down-payment Start saving today with a Sunpower ® Loan Call 216-333-1364 or visit yellowlite.com for a free home assessment today. Eco-Friendly No Gas No Odor No Noise No Forced Air No Maintenance 216-704-9912 sales@radiantheatusaonline.com • www.radiantheatusaonline.com 4 • ECOWATCH JOURNAL • FEBRUARY -MARCH 2012 WWW. ECOWATCH.ORG

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