Halt Immediately Well Fracking in Meander Creek Resevoir Drinking Water Area of Mahoning & Trumbull Counties, Ohio

Frackfree America National Coalition News Release
www.frackfreeamerica.org
_______________________________________________________
For Immediate Release: March 5, 2013
Contact: Susie Beiersdorfer or Jane Spies, M.S. Ed.: Phone: 234- 201-8007
or E-mail: frackfreeamerica@gmail.com
______________________________________________________

Frackfree America National Coalition (based in Youngstown, Ohio) Calls For an Immediate Halt To Upcoming Scheduled Fracking at the Cadle Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing Well (MAHN7) Located in The Protected Drinking Water Area of Meander Reservoir, Which Serves Hundreds of Thousands of Local Residents. Frackfree America Cites E-mails That Apparently Indicated a 4’ tear in the 20" casing during the cementing process at the Well in October, 2012. Previous Reported Violations of the Well Drilling Company is Also Part of the Group’s Concern. Frackfree America Members Will Take Their Concerns to Columbus, Ohio Officials on Wednesday, March 6, 2013.

Youngstown, Ohio – 3/5/13 - Concerned citizens of Frackfree America National Coalition (based in Youngstown, Ohio) will take their issues, especially an urgent matter related to the apparent upcoming fracking in the Meander Reservoir groundwater source protection area, to Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, as part of Legislator Accountability Day.

Frackfree America National Coalition members will present information to Representative Ronald V. Gerberry, Senator Joe Schiavoni, and other officials about the protected Meander Reservoir drinking water area, which serves over 200,000 people in local communities including Youngstown, Niles, and Austintown.

Susie Beiersdorfer, M.S., a co-founder of Frackfree America National Coalition said, “The fracking in Meander is an urgent concern, especially in light of an e-mail exchange that we found on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) website referring to a “20" casing failure” in October, 2012. We are calling for an immediate halt to operations in the protected drinking water area of Meander Reservoir at least until this can be clarified, and reported violations of CNX Gas Co LLC. can be examined. [See “StateImpact Pennsylvania” link below for violation reports]. The public health and safety of the families and community must be number one. It is astonishing to us that this permit to frack in this area was even allowed in the first place. We need ODNR and local officials to act proactively to prevent another similar instance to the recent illegal dumping of fracking-
related waste that contaminated the Mahoning River. Our stance is that fracking must be stopped, in general, as it cannot be done safely with the technology as it stands today.”


Frackfree America says that if the state or drillers say the well casing problem has been corrected, the public needs to see the proof, and independent, qualified, scientific experts need to evaluate and verify its claimed safety.

In addition, the following excerpt found on the ODNR website from an e-mail labeled as by Pete Nickel dated October 13, 2012, needs to be explained thoroughly and clearly in a public forum. (Please see the entire e-mail message thread at http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/mineral/oil/MRMImages/18/1/228343.pdf ):

[Excerpt follows: Starts at page 2 of 3 in PDF report]

“From: Nickel, Pete
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2012 12: 10 PM

[…]

“…The mud pumps were brought on line at 20 spm and then up to 40 spm (2 and 4 bpm) to fill the casing. Pressure was reading 0 psi.
Approximately 5-6 bbl was pumped with pressure reading 0 psi when the 20" casing failed causing an ~4' vertical split in the casing at GL. When the 20" split, it impacted the 30" conductor outside of it and put a horizontal crack in a weld ~10" long.
20",94#, J-55 casing is rated to 2110 psi burst, so it would be assumed that the pressure was higher than 2110 psi, although we have no record of the actual pressure because it was determined after the failure that the pressure transducer for mud pump 2 was not functioning.
John Fleming was on site and inspected the split casing.
The plan going forward, with ODNR approval, we will bring Weatherford Wireline out to run a 3 arm caliper and a CBL to evaluate
10/ 15/2012
~-------------------------------------------------------------
• . ' . Page 3 of3
the condition of the 20" and the cement. John Fleming will be contacted to witness the job in 6-8 hrs when Weatherford is expected. Once the caliper and bond log are run, we will evaluate and discuss with ODNR to come up with a plan going forward.
Pictures of casing attached.
Pete Nickel
Horizontal Rig Manager--CPA Ops “ […]


Frackfree America says that this Meander scenario illustrates why local control, rather than state control, is essential for communities to protect public health and safety in local neighborhoods and to protect drinking water, air, and land.


In fact, the group just received word that the required number of Youngstown registered voter signatures have been validated, so that a question about a local control Community Bill of Rights will appear on the May 7 ballot.

The group says it is wrong that nobody officially asked the local Youngstown-area community and families whether or not they wanted to accept the risks related to fracking and related processes in a protected drinking water area.

Frackfree America says that the community, local officials, and first responders have the right to protect their drinking water source from threats of contamination. Furthermore, they must be immediately and effectively notified when leaks, spills, pollution, or illegal dumping occur so that they can implement a preparedness plan. (See Bearkamp orphan well information below)


For more information please see:

E-mails cited above can be found at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) website at the following url:
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/mineral/oil/MRMImages/18/1/228343.pdf
(accessed: March 5, 2013)

See also:
“ Request Ohio Governor Revoke CNX’s Drilling Permit #34099231830000” at:

http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/1/post/2013/02/request-ohio-governor-revoke-cnxs-drilling-permit-34099231830000.html

For information by StateImpact Pennsylvania (per website’s “About” section: “…a collaboration between WITF, WHYY and NPR.” ) regarding violations of CNX Gas Co LLC. See: http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/drilling/operators/cnx-gas-co-llc/ (accessed 3/5/13)

Regarding the leak above a PA drinking water reservoir, please see:
“Drilling leak leads to violation notice”, by Timothy Puko, August 1, 2012, Tribune-Review:
http://triblive.com/news/2322637-74/officials-substance-authority-consol-state-bentonite-drinking-supply-according-ashton#axzz26fpG6s9Y

[See Url and Excerpt below from EPA website RE: "Bearkamp Orphan Well Plug Ellsworth, OH - EPA Region V"]
"In October 2011, the ODNR, Division of Mineral Resources Management requested assistance with the evaluation of and potential funding for plugging a leaking orphan oil well discharging crude oil to Meander Creek. The orphan well is located within three feet of the bank of the creek and in the near floodplain. Meander Creek flows into the Meander Creek Reservoir."
http://www.epaosc.org/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=8063

Drinking water information for “Youngstown: Mahoning Valley Sanitary District (Meander Reservoir)” can be found at the website titled,”Mahoning River Watershed, The Mahoning River Education Project – Drinking Water” at:
http://www.ysu.edu/mahoning_river/Research%20Reports/river_drinking_water.htm#Local%20Water%20Supply%20and%20Sources:%20Varied%20Reports%20and%20Various%20Sources

See a previous release that discussed Meander drinking water issues, “Statement: Open Letter” by Frackfree Mahoning Valley to Mayor Charles Sammarone and Youngstown City Council: September 18, 2012” :
http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/1/post/2012/09/statement-open-letter-by-frackfree-mahoning-valley-to-mayor-charles-sammarone-and-youngstown-city-council-september-18-2012.html

Please see: “Drilling commences at Mahoning County well Opponents decry location, September 14, 2012, by Brenda J. Linert, The Tribune Chronicle: http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/576558/Drilling-commences-at-Mahoning-County-well.html?nav=5003

The Frackfree America National Coalition website is at:
www.frackfreeamerica.org

Subscribe to the Frackfree America Free E-mail Listserv for important updates and information:
http://frackfreeamerica.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=ba7fe7ec95cf7d5295e545089&id=9c918b0843

Find Frackfree America on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Frackfree


For Media Inquiries or for more information, please call or e-mail:
frackfreeamerica@gmail.com 234-201-8007

# # #

Cadle - MAHN7AHSU well # API Well Number 34099231840000

Above-ground impoundments of fresh drinking water to be used for
fracking operation next week at Cadle - MAHN7AHSU well
# API Well Number 34099231840000

BREAKING: Protesters Blockade Fracking Well Site in Ohio

Frackfree Mahoning Valley

UPDATE! Video from Oct. 14 blockade of 2 wells drilled in Meander Reservoir protected area

UPDATE
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLTGWpYhZlU 3 min. Blockade at Meander Reservoir Fracking Well

Blockade at Meander Reservoir Fracking Well on Sunday, October 14, activists with Frackfree Mahoning Valley protested this well site and formed a blockade at the entrance of the site, refusing to move. They arrived at 10:30 a.m. and after more than four hours of blockading the entrance, activists decided to peacefully resolve the blockade with no arrests or confrontations. Fracking contaminates ground and surface water. An internal industry report found that six percent of wells have leaks immediately upon completion. Fracking uses a secret blend of toxic chemicals to shatter rocks deep within the Earth. Those chemicals can contaminate the water through negligence and through mechanical failure. No matter the safety record of a company—in this case Console Energy—wells fail, and overtime all wells break, becoming sources for water contamination. The Cadle fracking well site sits less than 100′ from a stream—a direct tributary of the Meander Reservoir. The Ohio EPA is responsible for the environmentally protected zone. The ODNR should have consulted with the Ohio EPA before granting the permit for this well. This action comes just days before Youngstown City Council will decide whether or not to lease city lands for fracking.

More than 40 Ohio residents blockaded a fracking well site demanding “Clean Water, NOT Toxic Waste.”

The ODNR has permitted a horizontal fracking well inside the environmentally-protected zone of the Meander Reservoir in Ohio’s Mahoning Valley without consulting the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the overseeing Mahoning Valley Sanitary District.
Today, activists with Frackfree Mahoning Valley protested this well site and formed a blockade at the entrance of the site, refusing to move. They arrived at 10:30 a.m. and after more than four hours of blockading the entrance, activists decided to peacefully resolve the blockade with no arrests or confrontations.
The goal of the protesters was to bring attention to this issue and with a great turnout from the local media, they have been successful.
One of the protesters John Bergen from Ohio said,“Yes, I am afraid, but I can no longer deny the urgency of stopping this—this toxic practice. There wasn’t even an environmental impact assessment for this project. It’s drill first, ask questions later.”
When asked what elected officials are doing, Allison Monroe from Ohio, replied, “State and federal government isn’t protecting us, so we have to protect ourselves.”

Rev. Monica Beasley-Martin, from Youngstown, Ohio, praises activists blockading a fracking well site. In her sermon she claims a moral Christian’s duty is to defend the Earth.

Fracking contaminates ground and surface water. An internal industry report found that six percent of wells have leaks immediately upon completion. Fracking uses a secret blend of toxic chemicals to shatter rocks deep within the Earth. Those chemicals can contaminate the water through negligence and through mechanical failure. No matter the safety record of a company—in this case Console Energy—wells fail, and overtime all wells break, becoming sources for water contamination.
The Cadle fracking well site sits less than 100′ from a stream—a direct tributary of the Meander Reservoir. The Ohio EPA is responsible for the environmentally protected zone. The ODNR should have consulted with the Ohio EPA before granting the permit for this well.
“What we are looking at is a clear and present danger to the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Mahoning Valley,” said John Williams, resident of Niles, Ohio. “Once again the ODNR has decided to put the profit of corporations before the people. We are looking at a crisis of legitimacy for the State of Ohio right now. This well threatens to contaminate the Meander Reservoir with heavy metals, carcinogens and a host of toxic chemicals.”

Activists remain determined to stop this fracking well site.

“What is especially troubling is that this is going forward. We are gathered here today because right now we have no other option to keep our families safe—we have to stop the construction,” Williams continued. “I guess if you asked me, that’s what I would say: that we’re here to keep our families and neighbors safe.”
This action comes just days before Youngstown City Council will decide whether or not to lease city lands for fracking.
And while a moratorium and stringent regulations on drilling and disposal of toxic fracking wastewater has been introduced in Ohio, many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are following Ohio Gov. Kasich’s embrace of big oil exploitation as a “Godsend” for Ohio, despite having no other evidence besides the word of industry to make that claim.
National lawmakers are little help for struggling communities, while the federal FRACK Act continues to languish in committee. The Ohio General Assembly, for the most part, remains beholden to the gas industry. Bills that have been introduced that would tighten regulations have been stuck in committee for nearly a year. Most local governments have proven ineffective so far, as many local officials are pleading powerlessness to the State of Ohio.
Organizer Sam Rubin, said, “Direct action is currently justified and necessary. As the established mechanisms for institutional change continue to choose the dirty money and deceitful tales of the gasmen over our communities’ health and safe drinking water we are forced into action—the question is not whether we will defend ourselves, but how.”

Take Action Now by calling on Youngstown officials to shut down the Meander well and not sell its mineral rights for fracking.

Local Residents' Concerns Over Rigs Drilling Gas Fracking Wells In Protected Drinking Water Source Area

PLEASE! All Concerned Ohio Citizens Contact ODNR: Tell State To Cease Its Mendacity & Hypocrisy NOW! Urgent request from Frackfree Mahoning Valley – based in the Youngstown, Ohio area – January 16, 2014: http://frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com/

       Please, concerned citizens of Ohio, tell the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) why we object to Director James Zehringer’s statements (1/16/14) to the press and please, concerned citizens of Ohio request for ODNR’s Director Zehringer to further clarify and correct his statements.  Would you please, concerned citizens of Ohio, send a letter or e-mail to ODNR and copy your local media? Thank you.

READ MORE: http://frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com/2014/01/PLEASE-AllConcernedOhioCitizensContactODNR-TellStateToCeaseMendacityHypocrisyNOW.html

RALLY 11:00 am Niles, OH 44446 THURS Jan 16, 2014
EVENT on web: Welcome James “Not in my backyard” Zehringer: http://keepnilessafe.org/events.html
Peaceful Outside Protest: MEANDER Reservoir THEME
Time: 11am, 123 N. Main Street Downtown Niles, 44446
MAP: http://goo.gl/maps/9ciQO Ciminero’s Banquet Center (across from tire shop & Sparkle). Meet in front of Ciminero’s sign. Stay on Public Sidewalk. Do not block traffic or pedestrians. Bring a sign if you have one. Protect Meander Watershed. Restore local control. Rally outside w/ signs, talking to media and standing up for Clean Water and Local Control!

We would like a public meeting with ODNR concerning the Liming well pad on Yerke-Young Rd. <2000’ to the Meander Creek Reservoir shore (Protected Drinking Water Source Area)
SEE well HERE: http://frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com/2014/01/local-residents-concerns-over-rigs.html
See ODNR PERMIT for Halcon: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/mineral/oil/MRMImages/17/4/264496.pdf

If anyone could get on talk radio today, Please ask the public to come out and join us! Give details.
There will be some extra signs. Lynn will make some posters and hopefully get there. John bringing the old/classic HONK FOR CLEAN WATER sign... YES!!! Hoping for Honks!

Government Affairs Council Presents Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director James Zehringer
Date: 1/16/2014
Time: 11:15 a.m.
Check-In & Lunch; 12 - 1 p.m.
Program Location: Ciminero's Banquet Centre, 123 N. Main St., Niles 44446
MAP: http://goo.gl/maps/9ciQO
James Zehringer, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which regulates the oil and gas industry in Ohio, will discuss a variety of topics at this GAC luncheon. Zehringer has said that the regulation of dangerous wild animals, environmentally safe development of shale in Ohio and reduction of phosphorous in the state’s waterways are key priorities. Before taking over as ODNR chief, he served as director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Zehringer is the former owner of the Meiring Poultry and Fish Farm in Fort Recovery, which received several awards for outstanding environmental practices. He also served as a former state representative for the 77th House District and as a Mercer County commissioner. After his talk, a panel consisting of government officials, landowners and business people will dialogue with Zehringer about shale development and other topics. Event Sponser: VEC Inc. (Valley Electrical Consolidated ) http://www.vecohio.com/

http://regionalchamber.com/memberresources/eventcalendar/events/jan16%20gacodnrjameszehringer.aspx

http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/596692/State-oil--gas-leader-to-speak-locally.html?nav=5003

Please CALL IN RonVerb show 3-6pm Mahoning Valley residents need to know ‪fracking‬ is being permitted in Meander Reservoir - in the Drinking Water Source Protected Area - great opportunity to present our own local water concerns & issues & help to raise general public awareness. For example: Meander drinking water & MillCreek Park concerns. Live Internet stream so anyone can hear the WKBN radio 570 AM call-in talk show on RADIO or ONLINE Toll Free: 800-777-5700
Local: 330-729-9977

http://www.570wkbn.com/main.html

INFO about the permitted wells 1 mile from Reservoir:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.470113956428727.1073741835.263861137054011&type=3

Ohio Revised Code (ORC) states (in effect 1953):

743.25 Jurisdiction of municipal corporations to prevent water pollution.

No person shall pollute a running stream, the water of which is used for domestic purposes by a municipal corporation, by putting therein a putrid or offensive substance, injurious to health. The director of public service of a city or board of trustees of public affairs of a village shall enforce this section. The jurisdiction of a municipal corporation to prevent the pollution of its water supply and to provide a penalty therefor shall extend twenty miles beyond the municipal corporation limits.
Effective Date: 10-01-1953

Can be read online at source HERE: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/743.25

MORE about the wells on the shores of Meander Creek Reservoir, Mahoning Valley, Ohio, and in the Protected Drinking Water Source Area:
http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/swapwells.html

ALSO READ: February 23, 2012   Tribune Chronicle news story [excerpt]
http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/568334/News-in-brief.html?nav=5021

"MINERAL RIDGE - Meander Water is hiring ms consultants of Youngstown to investigate why numerous cracks appeared in its filter house annex on Jan. 3. Officials placed detectors on the walls over the cracks to determine whether they would continue to grow. The building is next to the construction of the $24 million solids contact clarifier recarbonation project. MVSD officials say they do not know whether the cracks may have been formed because of earth movement that was a result of the project or from an earthquake that occurred in the area on Dec. 31. The annex building was built in 2005. The investigation is expected to cost about $23,000. "

CLICK images to view enlarged:

MAP photo source: http://goo.gl/maps/tpYJW

photo MAP source: http://goo.gl/maps/tpYJW

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=470114353095354&set=a.470113956428727.1073741835.263861137054011&type=3&theater

Mahoning Fracking Rig Drive-through Held By Concerned Citizens

You have to see it to believe it!

UPDATE VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLTGWpYhZlU 3 min. Blockade at Meander Reservoir Fracking Well

Blockade at Meander Reservoir Fracking Well on Sunday, October 14, activists with Frackfree Mahoning Valley protested this well site and formed a blockade at the entrance of the site, refusing to move. They arrived at 10:30 a.m. and after more than four hours of blockading the entrance, activists decided to peacefully resolve the blockade with no arrests or confrontations. Fracking contaminates ground and surface water. An internal industry report found that six percent of wells have leaks immediately upon completion. Fracking uses a secret blend of toxic chemicals to shatter rocks deep within the Earth. Those chemicals can contaminate the water through negligence and through mechanical failure. No matter the safety record of a company—in this case Console Energy—wells fail, and overtime all wells break, becoming sources for water contamination. The Cadle fracking well site sits less than 100′ from a stream—a direct tributary of the Meander Reservoir. The Ohio EPA is responsible for the environmentally protected zone. The ODNR should have consulted with the Ohio EPA before granting the permit for this well. This action comes just days before Youngstown City Council will decide whether or not to lease city lands for fracking.

UPDATE |||

A group plans to protest the horizontal well being drilled in Jackson Township beginning at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Oct 14, 2012. The Cadle well has been drilled within the environmentally protected zone that protects the Meander Reservoir f rom contamination. The well is located on Blott Road just east of the intersection with South Bailey Road.  The protest is organized by Frackfree Mahoning Valley and will include students and professors from Youngstown State and Kent State universities, Oberlin and Hiram colleges, and University of Akron. MORE:  http://www.facebook.com/events/416137221775675

Concerned Citizens Mahoning Valley Watershed Hold Drive-Through at Fracking Gas Drilling Rig, Thurs., Sept.. 27, 5-6pm

There is now a horizontal fracking rig in the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District's Drinking Water Protection Area.

It has been placed on the banks of a stream that runs directly into Meander Reservoir.

A DRIVE-THROUGH
is being held Thurs., Sept. 27, 5-6pm (or by appointment)
where rig information will be distributed,
along with contact information which may be used to inquire
as to whether the district, the emergency responders and the operators are prepared for a blow-out.

If you are a water customer in Niles, Youngstown, Girard, Austintown, Boardman or Canfield-
 you must

SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT!

Concerned Citizens Mahoning Valley Watershed Hold Drive-Through at Fracking Gas Drilling Rig, Thurs., Sept.. 27, 5-6pm

Concerned Citizens Mahoning Valley Watershed Hold Drive-Through at Fracking Gas Drilling Rig, Thurs., Sept.. 27, 5-6pm

http://goo.gl/maps/WWAuK MAP

MAP (coordinates 41.0743127586642,-80.8826439770882 )

(coordinates 41.0743127586642,-80.8826439770882 )

well info from permit list:
County: MAHONING
#aAMY0001529 8/24/2012
Lot: 34
Sec: none
Quad: LAKE MILTON
-----------------------------
CADLE MAHN7CHSU
CNX GAS COMPANY LLC
200 EVERGREENE DRIVE
WAYNESBURG, PA 15370
724-627-1246
---------------------------------
Exists: none
Civil Twp: JACKSON
Type: Plug back to horizontally drill
Purpose: OG Rig: RTAF
Formation(s): POINT PLEASANT
Acreage: 159.52
XCoord: 2445902
YCoord: 516964
County Rd: none
Ingress & Egress Township Rd: TR 160/BLOTT
Municipal Rd: none
State Rd: none
================

This horizontal fracking rig is in the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District's Drinking Water Protection Area. It has been placed on the banks of a stream that runs directly into Meander Reservoir.

1 Call your State Representatives:
Capri Cafaro: (614) 466-7182 / Joe Schiavoni (614) 466-8285
Sean O'Brien (614) 466-3488 / Bob Hagan (614) 719-3960

2. Call ODNR. Complain that Tom Tomastic should not have been planning this behind the backs of our local officials, including Ohio EPA in Twinsburgh. (614) 265-6922
3. Call the Governor. Tell him what you think. (614) 466-3555
4. Call the Lt Governor. Give her a piece of it as well. Same # as Governor.
5. Call All your local representatives. ALL OF THEM! LIST HERE: http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/callyoungstown.html
6. Join us, October 3, 2012, at 5:30pm at the Youngstown City Council Meeting. City Hall, Phelps Street, 5th floor. WE MUST BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR AT THIS IMPORTANT MEETING!
7. Add your name to the PETITION: http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/
8. Share this on facebook >> on FB at >> http://www.facebook.com/notes/stop-fracking-ohio/youngstown-city-council-do-not-sell-the-mineral-rights-to-youngstowns-public-lan/485771764775956

This horizontal fracking rig is in the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District's Drinking Water Protection Area. It has been placed on the banks of a stream that runs directly into Meander Reservoir.

1 Call your State Representatives:
Capri Cafaro: (614) 466-7182 / Joe Schiavoni (614) 466-8285
Sean O'Brien (614) 466-3488 / Bob Hagan (614) 719-3960

2. Call ODNR. Complain that Tom Tomastic should not have been planning this behind the backs of our local officials, including Ohio EPA in Twinsburgh. (614) 265-6922
3. Call the Governor. Tell him what you think. (614) 466-3555
4. Call the Lt Governor. Give her a piece of it as well. Same # as Governor.
5. Call All your local representatives. ALL OF THEM! LIST HERE: http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/callyoungstown.html
6. Join us, October 3, 2012, at 5:30pm at the Youngstown City Council Meeting. City Hall, Phelps Street, 5th floor. WE MUST BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR AT THIS IMPORTANT MEETING!
7. Add your name to the PETITION: http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/
8. Share this on facebook >> on FB at >> http://www.facebook.com/notes/stop-fracking-ohio/youngstown-city-council-do-not-sell-the-mineral-rights-to-youngstowns-public-lan/485771764775956

 This horizontal fracking rig is in the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District's Drinking Water Protection Area. It has been placed on the banks of a stream that runs directly into Meander Reservoir.

1 Call your State Representatives:
Capri Cafaro: (614) 466-7182 / Joe Schiavoni (614) 466-8285
Sean O'Brien (614) 466-3488 / Bob Hagan (614) 719-3960

2. Call ODNR. Complain that Tom Tomastic should not have been planning this behind the backs of our local officials, including Ohio EPA in Twinsburgh. (614) 265-6922
3. Call the Governor. Tell him what you think. (614) 466-3555
4. Call the Lt Governor. Give her a piece of it as well. Same # as Governor.
5. Call All your local representatives. ALL OF THEM! LIST HERE: http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/callyoungstown.html
6. Join us, October 3, 2012, at 5:30pm at the Youngstown City Council Meeting. City Hall, Phelps Street, 5th floor. WE MUST BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR AT THIS IMPORTANT MEETING!
7. Add your name to the PETITION: http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/
8. Share this on facebook >> on FB at >> http://www.facebook.com/notes/stop-fracking-ohio/youngstown-city-council-do-not-sell-the-mineral-rights-to-youngstowns-public-lan/485771764775956

“Statement: Open Letter” by Frackfree Mahoning Valley to Mayor Charles Sammarone and Youngstown City Council: September 18, 2012

“Statement:  Open Letter” by Frackfree Mahoning Valley to Mayor Charles Sammarone and Youngstown City Council: September 18, 2012:   ((( permanent link )))

WHY YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, MAYOR CHARLES P. SAMMARONE AND YOUNGSTOWN CITY COUNCIL MUST DELAY THE VOTE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012 THAT COULD GREENLIGHT THE SELLING OR LEASING OF YOUNGSTOWN MINERAL RIGHTS, THEREBY OPENING THE DOOR TO FRACKING AND RELATED PROCESSES IN YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO

Youngstown, Ohio, 9/18/12 - According to the Youngstown, Ohio Vindicator (9/14/12), in an article titled, “Youngstown council to weigh fracking resolution,” by David Skolnick:
“The mayor is asking city council to support a resolution urging the state to have ‘stringent regulations’ on fracking while also seeking council’s approval to sell the city’s mineral rights.
Mayor Charles Sammarone’s resolution calls for the city to support oil and gas drilling, as permitted by the state, as long as Ohio officials ‘respect local concerns by protecting the citizens of Youngstown through stringent and effective regulation …’ ”
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/sep/14/youngstown-council-to-weigh-fracking-res/

Frackfree Mahoning Valley (FFM), a group of concerned citizens from Youngstown, Ohio and the surrounding area, says that fracking and related processes cannot be made safe by implementing “stringent regulation.”
Frackfree Mahoning Valley says that the process is inherently unsafe, as indicated by a mounting number of scientific reports, news articles, and documents.   (Please see some of these reports, news videos, and articles at the following URL:
http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/1/post/2012/08/update-1-for-freedom-from-toxic-fracking-waste-national-rally-day.html   )

This is not solely an issue for Mayor Sammarone and the Youngstown City Council to decide without adequate due diligence that consists of open, public, preferably televised,  dialogue, among independent scientists, physicians and other health professionals, public health officials, the general public, lawyers, mortgage and insurance experts, and industry and business representatives.
Immediate increased transparency and public dialogue is necessary to safeguard the public interest.
Frackfree Mahoning Valley urges all Youngstown and surrounding area citizens to please attend the public meeting at Youngstown City Council on Wednesday, September, 19, 2012.
The adverse risks of fracking and related processes to the public health, safety, and well-being are too great to force them upon the public.

Wherever there is fracking there must be millions of gallons of toxic fracking wastewater produced. What are Youngstown’s plans to identify, test and dispose of this waste and other solid fracking waste?  It must go somewhere, and Ohio seems to be the state most preferred for dumping or disposal of Ohio’s or other states’ hydraulic fracturing – related waste. If the greenlight is given for fracking in the city, this will by definition mean that more waste in the Youngstown area will be created.  Where will it go?  What are the plans for disposal?

It has been established that the December 31, 2011, 4.0 magnitude earthquake that shook Youngstown, Ohio and was felt in numerous surrounding states and as far away as Canada, was linked to a fracking waste disposal deep injection well.
The Youngstown earthquake of December 31, 2011, was one of about 12 earthquakes in an area that never had reported earthquakes before the drilling.
The fact that surrounding states as well as areas in Canada reported feeling that 4.0 mag. earthquake, makes the decision that Mayor Sammarone and Youngstown City Council regarding whether or not to allow fracking and related processes in the city, an issue for all of the citizens in those states or province, as well as Ohio.  Have they been officially consulted? Not as far as we know.

It is irresponsible to allow fracking and/or disposal of fracking waste in the city for the latter fact alone.  There are too many unknowns about where geological faults lie and how to actually prevent fracking-related earthquakes.  Injection wells in the earthquake – related moratorium areas must not be started again.  Fracking waste disposal in those areas, at least, must be permanently banned. In addition, the so-called “brine” “saltwater” fracking waste must be independently, publicly, completely, and scientifically tested for all components of this substance.

“Stringent regulations” did not prevent the earthquakes, or other accidents that have taken place recently in Youngstown or the surrounding area.  One cannot make an inherently unsafe process safe by making more regulations. For example, asbestos was once thought to be safe for use by the public. Science later showed that asbestos is inherently unsafe. No amount of “strict regulation” will make asbestos safe.   This is the same with fracking and related processes. They are inherently unsafe and no amount of regulations will make them safe.

The following fracking – related accidents are not theoretical. This is happening now and must be adequately addressed. These incidents still remain unresolved.  If these kinds of spills or accidents are already happening before fracking and related processes are even taking place on a large scale in Ohio, what kinds of health risks and threats to drinking water will the general public face if the industry ramps up full speed ahead?  It must be delayed now.

Incidents of concern include but are not limited to:

-Fracking and injection well – related earthquakes:
CNNMoney: “Is drilling causing Ohio earthquakes?" By Poppy Harlow and Erica Fink @CNNMoney January 17, 2012: 11:13 AM ET”
[Especially see second video titled, “Ohio's mysterious man-made earthquakes”]
http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/17/news/ohio_earthquakes/?source=cnn_bin

-A 5-mile long spill of “brine” waste near an injection well that was leaked from a truck on the road in Fowler. It is still not clear what that substance was composed of or how the incident occurred.   Reports show that “brine” waste can contain carcinogenic chemicals and naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM).  We should know what the community was exposed to as a result of this “brine water” truck spill. 
See:
“Weekend Brine Water Spill Reported in Fowler,” WKBN TV News (27),” Published: 7/11 5:46 pm Updated: 7/18 5:56 pm”
http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/local/story/Weekend-Brine-Water-Spill-Reported-in-Fowler/nIQe3_JvvEqdlJ8FSYrrXg.cspx

-Fish die in a Brookfield, Ohio pond. What exactly caused countless fish to die?  Consol Energy was cited by the EPA in relation to the runoff, according to the WKBN TV News report.
See:
“Slag Runoff May Have Caused Brookfield Fish Kill,” WKBN TV News (27) “Published: 7/31 10:14 pm Updated: 8/01 8:11 pm”
http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/local/story/Slag-Runoff-May-Have-Caused-Brookfield-Fish-Kill/CuanEIQ0pE-bZSFEpq-Aiw.cspx

-The Purple Cat spill – Coitsville, Ohio.   According to the Vindicator cited below: “The spillage drained into an open field near the well site and in the direction of a body of water behind The Purple Cat, the nonprofit, private agency that offers day programs and work opportunities for people with disabilities.”
“D&L faced violations in its past” Published: Mon, January 2, 2012 @ 12:03 a.m., by Karl Henkel, The Vindicator.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/jan/02/by-karl-henkel/

-The Ginsburg well. An Ohio well reported as having numerous serious violations is reportedly still operating.
See:
"Teresa Mills and Heather Cantino - Injection Wells":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyUQ4aP_1UU&feature=related

--Seismic testing allegedly caused damage to the courthouse building in Marietta, Ohio. Could this happen elsewhere and what are the exact risks of seismic testing on old pipes and structures?   Youngstown and other state and city officials should be looking at what happened in Marietta for “lessons learned,” as the title cited below says.  Seismic testing is going on currently in various parts of Ohio.  According to the Marietta Times article cited below, “…Slight damage occured [sic] in at least one local residence near Ohio 60 where the trucks were conducting their tests. And the seismic waves may be the cause behind a sewer pipe breaking in the new Marietta Municipal Court. The broken line caused sewage and water to leak into a storage area, damaging some records. City engineers say they are also concerned culverts along the way may have been damaged.”

See:

“Seismic testing, lessons learned?”, July 14, 2012, The Marietta Times:
http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/545397/Seismic-testing--lessons-learned-.html?nav=5004

These kinds of incidents do not inspire public confidence in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) or other Ohio officials’ ability to safely regulate the gas and oil industry. These serious accidents make assurances given by officials regarding “stringent regulations” sound like false reassurances. Even small human errors can cause highly damaging consequences. Drinking water sources and public health should not be put in jeopardy.

The following news articles include information about why these kinds of decisions cannot be rushed through council without adequate due diligence and public notification of what is going on in their communities.  The public must have a real opportunity to voice their feedback and concerns.

An astounding example of the lack of thinking things through adequately when it comes to permitting fracking and related processes in Ohio is the drilling in the watershed of the Meander Reservoir.  This reservoir is a drinking water source for 300,000 citizens in our Mahoning Valley. Preparation for drilling has already begun.
This turn of events and the site chosen near Meander is astonishing, especially in light of a news report from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in August of 2012, where, according to Timothy Puko of  the Tribune – Review, cited below,  “A gas-drilling site leaked sediment above a drinking – water reservoir in Westmoreland County, leading state environmental regulators to issue a violation notice.”  (8/1/12)  The driller was reported to be Consol Energy, according to the news article.
See:
“Drilling leak leads to violation notice”, by Timothy Puko, August 1, 2012, Tribune-Review:
http://triblive.com/news/2322637-74/officials-substance-authority-consol-state-bentonite-drinking-supply-according-ashton#axzz26fpG6s9Y
Details about the drilling near Meander Reservoir and the location of the well “in the Meander Reservoir’s watershed”, according to the Tribune – Chronicle, are included in the following Tribune Chronicle article (9/14/12).  According to the Tribune – Chronicle article, CNX Gas Co. LLC is the driller of the horizontal well.
See:
“Drilling commences at Mahoning County well: Opponents decry location”, September 14, 2012, By BRENDA J. LINERT
https://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/576558/Drilling-commences-at-Mahoning-County-well.html?nav=5003

The Marcellus Drilling News reports that the watershed well “…is being drilled by CNX Gas (subsidiary of CONSOL Energy)”, which reportedly was issued a violation notice in the above-mentioned article describing the Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, drilling leak incident.
Is this the same company that will soon be drilling in the Meander watershed? This needs to be made clear. The public needs to know.
See:
“CNX Gas Starts Utica Well in Meander Reservoir Watershed”, Marcellus Drilling News:
http://marcellusdrilling.com/2012/09/cnx-gas-starts-utica-well-in-meander-reservoir-watershed/

There is an urgent and great need to slow this entire process down while people educate themselves and learn the truth about what is going on in their residential neighborhoods when it comes to the gas and oil industry drilling. Drilling has even commenced or is being considered as an option near cemeteries, schools, homes, forests, and parks in various parts of the country.
Frackfree Mahoning Valley believes that promises of quick money for leasing mineral rights by the oil and gas drilling industry are clouding some peoples’ judgment regarding the dangers of fracking and related processes. Issues such as gas drilling- related eminent domain and mandatory or forced pooling need to be fully understood by the general public.
There is too much rushing to drill without the public’s full knowledge.  On too many occasions, the public is caught off guard by how swiftly drilling activities are moving into their neighborhoods near homes and schools. This is not right and must stop.

What’s the rush?

See:   “Fracking in Suburbia”,  [features Broadview Heights, Ohio]:
“Tuesday, 18 September 2012 10:09 By Andrew Spear and Mike Ludwig, Truthout | Video Report”:
http://truth-out.org/news/item/11604-fracking-in-suburbia

Articles that address other states’ experiences with fracking and related processes show that even strict regulations are not always enforced.  Ohio is not adequately prepared to police spills, leaks, mechanical failures, and accidents that are already beginning to occur.  First responders, health professionals, and the general public need to know what exactly is in the fracking “brine” waste.
We in Ohio should be learning from residents’ experiences in other states with fracking and related processes rather than some people or officials ignoring or remaining unaware of other states’ problems and damages related to gas drilling and plunging blindly and recklessly, full speed ahead. This is foolish and irresponsible. It is a disservice to the community and a threat to public health and safety.

See:  “North Dakota’s Oil Boom Brings Damage Along With Prosperity” “by Nicholas Kusnetz, Special to ProPublica June 7, 2012, 11:47 a.m.”
http://www.propublica.org/article/the-other-fracking-north-dakotas-oil-boom-brings-damage-along-with-prosperi

Also see:  Update 1 – Many informative links to videos, articles, and reports can be found at the end of Update 1 at:
http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/1/post/2012/08/update-1-for-freedom-from-toxic-fracking-waste-national-rally-day.html
Also see:
[GAO Report:] “Drinking Water Safeguards Are Not Preventing Contamination From Injected Oil and Gas Wastes RCED-89-97, Jul 5, 1989” http://www.gao.gov/products/RCED-89-97

“Cracks in the Façade …” Dusty Horwitt, Senior Counsel, Environmental Working Group, August 3, 2011:
http://static.ewg.org/reports/2011/fracking/cracks_in_the_facade.pdf


These are just a few of the reasons why Mayor Sammarone and Youngstown City Council must delay the vote on fracking in Youngstown, Ohio, on Wednesday, September 19, 2012.

If this vote is not delayed in order for the Youngstown City Council to continue to do additional proper study and due diligence and to properly  inform the general public of the serious risks of fracking and related processes to the public health, safety, and well-being, Frackfree Mahoning Valley believes that such apparent willingness to rush into an agreement for oil and gas industry drilling or fracking in Youngstown, without adequate due diligence, will show that Mayor Sammarone and Youngstown City Council are not adequately protecting the public’s health, safety, and well-being.
 The health of our communities, citizens, families, and future generations must take priority in any decision-making regarding fracking and related processes. Too much is at stake for irresponsible, rash decisions to be made.
Delay the vote. It is the right thing to do.

For media inquiries or more information, e-mail:
frackfreemahoning@gmail.com or call:
234-201-0402
www.frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com
Also see:

Frackfree America National Coalition
www.frackfreeamerica.org

e-mail: frackfreeamerica@gmail.com call: 234-201-8007

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/Frackfree


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"That this ORDINANCE is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, welfare and safety, the emergency being the necessity to authorize the Board of Control to seek competitive proposals and enter into a contract to lease city-owned land for oil and gas extraction..."
"All monies received from this activity will be used to fund economic development, demolition, and neighborhood improvement projects..." Read first page of ordinance HERE

"A RESOLUTION calling for stringent regulation by the state of Ohio on oil and natural gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing" "... so long as the [ODNR] respect local concerns by protecting the Citizens of Youngstown through stringent and effective regulation, and immediately respond to any and all inquiries from City of Youngstown governmental officials." Read first page of resolution HERE.

Elders Take a Break From Weeping To Smile Down Upon New Generation

UPDATE: VIDEO released at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=N0lBGnHZk8Y   Press Conference in Mill Creek Park's Lily Pond

Smiling through the tears - conservationists of old smiling down on those trying to follow in their footsteps in the fight for clean water, clean land and the preservation of unsullied wild places - and then they continue to weep at the horrors wrought by entities like an out-of-control fossil fools industry - and at our shared willful and arrogant ignorance. We hope there is time...

Smiling through the tears - conservationists of old smiling down on those following in their footsteps (although the water is higher, the pool of tears deeper)

Coverage of Lily Pond press conference here: http://www.tribunechronicle.com/page/content.detail/id/570756/Shale-deal-draws-fire--video-.html?nav=5021  
We Stand For What We Stand In - Do You?**  It was held in attempt to keep media up-to-date on fast breaking BP Actions, See earlier Actions Here: http://ohiofracktion.com/?s=BP and Here: http://frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com/2012/04/bp-gets-cook-out-reception-at-vienna.html

This is the anniversary of the BP Gulf Disaster and Ecowatch breaks story of BP cover-up TWO years earlier, story here: PART 2: BP Covered Up Blow-out Prior to Deepwater Horizon

Brief Warren Tribune-Chronicle video on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjbODOiyjjc&feature=player_embedded

Return of the rainbow warriors... :-)

Return of the rainbow warriors although in reality they are the everyday people all around you, participating in civic duties, attending meeting after meeting, standing up, speaking out, even running for office Jim....Howard... Cheryl...

Mill Creek Park board meeting, some of the Guardians giving comment and guidance

Occupy Youngstown GA General Assembly meeting, downtown Youngstown Ohio

After the We Stand For What We Stand In - Do You?** press conference in the Lily Pond, Mill Creek Park, Youngstown, northeast Ohio

...speaking out and taking action often shoulder-to-shoulder and sometimes alone as Tom Cvetkovich did (above in the red shirt assisting with the We Stand For What We Stand In - Do You?** ) On April 18, 2012, Tom made a fervent and science-backed plea to the town fathers to enact a human rights-based ban on fracking in Youngstown. If they listen and act they will beat Cincinnati to be the first major city in Ohio to pass an anti-fracking resolution

The transcript of Tom's  presentation:

Plea for a ban on Hydraulic Fracking in the Meander and Mill Creek Watersheds To: The Youngstown City Council, The Governing Board of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District and the Mill Creek Park Commissioners Mayor, City Council, fellow concerned citizens, I will present three reasons why a ban on hydrofracking in the Meander and Mill Creek watersheds is a reasonable idea.
They are health, economic and legal in nature. Everyone acknowledges that there is risk in an endeavor as complex and huge as hydrofracking The question is when do the quantity, severity and nature of those risks outweigh the benefits. We accept risk when we drive our cars. And we seek to minimize risk when identified causes lead to a pattern of accidents, we lower speed limits, seat belts, change the signage, etc. There are 64,000 active gas wells in Ohio. This record is a seemingly compelling argument to accept the future proposed round of drilling. But we also know that hydrofracking multiplies all of the risk factors and stressors on human health and the environment by many times. There are more noxious air emissions, more hazardous chemicals and up to 500 times more water consumed than with conventional fracked vertical or slant wells. Past performance equals future expectations.

Here is a list of a wide variety of so-called “Fraccidents” of the past few years. These are taken from Google Maps, Fraccidents. Examples include spillage, fouled streams, noxious vapors and anecdotes, including the fellow who took a sip of water one morning followed immediately by a burning in his mouth and immediate headache. After his wife’s shower her lungs and sinuses burned. The map gives names and is cross-referenced with newspaper reports. Events which occurred in Pennsylvania often include a Department of Environmental Protection reference date. (A fifteen-foot long scroll of these incidents was exhibited to council.)

If these are not “excusable, one of a kind” accidents then perhaps by now we should be seeing concerned doctors and institutions undertaking comprehensive studies in those states where fracking is several years ahead of Ohio. And in fact we are seeing them. A three-year study by the Colorado School of Public Health warns, “that air pollution caused by hydraulic fracturing or fracking may contribute to acute and chronic health problems for those living near natural gas drilling sites.” Veterinarians from Cornell University have put together a list of adverse health conditions in animals and humans as correlated to gas operations. These are anecdotal reports, not hard evidence, but they are as valid and important to the discussion as the reporting of the coincidences of time and place of the Youngstown earthquakes with the D&L injection well. The authors explain, “Because animals often are exposed continually to air, soil, and groundwater and have more frequent reproductive cycles, animals can be used as sentinels to monitor impacts to human health.” Adverse health effects impacted; reproductive, respiratory, dermatological, and neurological systems of dogs, cats, lamas, cows, chickens and their human owners. The report includes the kind of gas well present and the possible route of contamination including storm water run off, spills waste water impoundment compromise, etc. Can this simply be coincidence? Coincidence in both place and time? Let me remind you that it took 34 years between the Surgeon Generals warning on cigarettes and the actual molecular proof that cigarettes cause cancer. If a bend in a road has multiple accidents in a year, do we not say, “Maybe the speed limit should be lowered?” This graph compares bodily reactions to fracking chemicals as correlated by their MSDS. (GRAPH SHOWN TO COUNCIL) “Of those (chemicals) studied, 72 were found to have 10 or more adverse health effects, including effects on skin, eye and sensory organs, respiratory, gastrointestinal brain and nervous, endocrine and immune systems, kidney, liver, cardiovascular and blood, as well as cancer causing and mutagenic effects. Some of the chemicals used include hydrochloric acid, gluteraldehyde, formaldehyde, xylene, formic acid and ammonia, heavy metals and numerous organic compounds, to mention only a few.” Says Dr. Theodore Voneida, founder of the Neuro Biology Department at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). Numerous professionals and institutions have voiced concern and/or studied the ills of hydraulic fracturing.

The international firm Schlumberger, the industry standard for testing and analysis reports 61% of gas wells will experience Sustained Casing Pressure problems in 31 years. This is from a study of 22,000 wells. (GRAPH SHOWN TO COUNCIL) This means that the story of a well does not end when production ends. Last year alone the ODNR had to seal 1,000 orphaned wells. The new hydrofracked wells will leave a legacy of underground toxins at extreme pressure which for many decades have an impetus to find the path of least resistance upwards. Is it not possible that these “swimming pools” of added toxins combined with the now liberated chemicals already existing in the earth will silently find their way to our water sources? A report issued this today (April 18th 2012) by the USGS (US Geological Services) links an uptick in seismic activity in the Midwest with injection wells.

My second point is financial. The revenue local municipalities receive is not unencumbered. Many studies detail the long-term costs and liabilities, which include: Hazmat equipment and training, road deterioration, real-estate depreciation, , changes in water treatment protocols. Pittsburgh recently had to deal with bromide in the Monongahela River. When combined with chlorine it forms trihalomethanes, a cancer-causing agent. There is concern that water prices may rise.

Thirdly, lawsuits relating to the industry are starting to abound. In Philadelphia there has even been a whole convention dedicated to the topic of lawsuits and fracking. "Municipalities are on the horizon,…threats to their water supplies as opposed to just homeowners and their water supplies,…" said co-chair Marc J. Bern. This is a sign of a poorly regulated and executed industry. Has any other industry ever amassed such a history of objections and concerns? Summary The effects of the hydraulic fracturing are systemic and persistent. In your deliberation on fracking please consider the magnitude of possible losses: residents’ health, potable water supply impacts, recreational opportunities lost, possible deterring of future development to the area, irrigation problems, litigation. Please consider the many directions from which hazards might arise. Existing leases and short-term revenues do not out weigh these concerns.

Smaller and large communities than ours have banned fracking in their watersheds. Our water and air are owned “in common.” The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District is its steward. You cannot clean a lake or aquifer with a shop vac. The industry may offer in good faith to clean up after itself but the whole notion of cleaning up or replacing such resources is absurd and often beyond the capability of the firms involved.

A ban on fracking in the Meander and Mill Creek watersheds is not be an indictment on the industry any more than a 70 mile speed limit is an indictment on GM for making cars that go 140 miles an hour. This request is not an indictment of V&M and other industries for whom the Valley (Youngstown) has rolled out the red carpet. It is not a betrayal of those we know and respect who work in the industry, nor a judgment of those who have leased their mineral rights. Rather it is a request for a responsible decision with a healthy dose of caution, and respect for our common values related to a livable community including the safeguard of our essential water and air. Please, in conjunction with the Governing Board of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District and the Mill Creek Park Commissioners, put a ban on hydraulic fracturing in the Meander and Mill Creek watersheds.

We thought the steel industry would be here forever and they let us down, shame on them. If we bet our future on the Fracking boom, shame on us. Respectfully, Tom Cvetkovich April 18th, 2012

All the sources can be read here: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BxMk46fPsammTE5sQ2FhendYZHM

Coverage by The Business Journal: Dozens Urge City Council to Protect Water  http://businessjournaldaily.com/drilling-down/dozens-urge-city-council-protect-water-2012-4-19

Coverage by WKBN 27:  Youngstown Man Seeks Fracking Ban   http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/local/story/Youngstown-Man-Seeks-Fracking-Ban/Q-XymVdsJkSTr7f8M0Mw0A.cspx

Coverage by WFMJ: Fracking opponent pleads for ban on drilling near local water shed http://www.wfmj.com/story/17549949/fracking-opponent-pleads-for-ban-on-drilling-near-local-water-shed

**According to wikipedia, the chorus of this spiritual first published in 1901, Wade In The Water:

Wade in the water.
Wade in the water children.
Wade in the water.
God's gonna trouble the water.

 refers to healing: see John 5:4, "For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." Thus and so, have you joined the tide to Wade in the Water, to heal the fracktioning situation? You know in your heart it doesn't have to be this way, there are better ways to exist on earth.