For
Immediate Release: February 21, 2012
________________________________________________________________________
YOUNGSTOWN,
OHIO GROUP TO DISCUSS RISKS OF FRACKING, MAN-MADE EARTHQUAKES, AND POSSIBLE GAS
DRILLING UNDER LOWELLVILLE CEMETERY, MILL CREEK PARK, AND POLAND MUNICIPAL
FOREST
Youngstown,
Ohio - On Monday, February 27, 2012, a group of concerned Youngstown citizens
and panelists will hold the second in a series of open public town hall style
informational meetings to provide new and updated information and to answer
audience questions about events related to the 4.0 magnitude Youngstown area
earthquake, fracking and related processes associated with shale gas drilling,
and brine toxic waste injection wells.
New,
additional topics will include risks involving the possibility of gas
industry-related drilling under Poland Township’s Lowellville Cemetery, Mill
Creek Park, and Poland Municipal Forest. The meeting is coordinated by Frackfree
Mahoning Valley and will take place at The First Unitarian Universalist Church
of Youngstown, Channing Hall, at 6-8 pm at 1105 Elm St. (Elm & Illinois),
Youngstown, Ohio. Media and the general public are invited to attend.
Ohio
State Representative Robert Hagan will be a panelist at the February
27nd town hall as will Geology Professor Ray Beiersdorfer, Ph.D., who
will give an earthquake update. Lynn Anderson, member of the Guardians of Mill
Creek Park, will explain why hydraulic fracturing (fracking) near Mill Creek
Park and the adjacent residential area should not be allowed.
In
light of reported high risks of fracking to public health and safety, Frackfree
Mahoning Valley is concerned about local and national accounts of actual
drilling, or the possibility of gas well drilling, under or near cemeteries,
homes, schools, Mill Creek Park, Poland Forest, farms and elsewhere.
According
to geologist, Susie Beiersdorfer, who will moderate the town hall meeting, “More
and more citizens are waking up to the reality of serious risks of
fracking-related processes to drinking water and air quality, as well as
man-made earthquakes in our area. The idea that there would be any discussion at
all of placing injection wells or hydraulic fracturing wells near cemeteries,
schools, homes, parks or forests is appalling and highly misguided, to say the
least. It shows disregard of the public’s right to protect our health and
safety.”
Despite
the gas and oil industry’s lobbying and expensive advertising efforts to try to
reassure people of the safety of its new technology, opposition to fracking
remains strong. A Quinnipiac
University poll showed that 72 percent of Ohio voters say “…stop hydro-fracking
until there are further studies on its impact.” (Quinnipiac University press
release, 1/19/12; http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/ohio/release-detail?ReleaseID=1692
)
In
New York State there is currently a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing.
Officials must respond to citizens’ comments on whether or not to allow the hold
on hydrofracking to be lifted. A Syracuse newspaper reports that most of the
comments are against drilling. More specifically, “The Gannett newspapers
reported in mid-December that comments up to that time were running 10 to 1 in
opposition”, according to The Post- Standard of Syracuse, New
York. (2/20/12; http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/new_york_state_inundated_with.html )
Residents
from all regions are encouraged to attend the Youngstown meeting and to voice
their concerns or questions.
For
town hall meeting details or updates, see the Facebook event page
at:
See
the Frackfree Mahoning Valley website and sign up for a free e-mail announcement
mailing list at:
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