Fracking Dialogue at Northeast Ohio Townhall, Youngstown, Safeguards Public Health With Accurate Transparent Solutions

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Frackfree Mahoning Valley                         News Release

www.frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com/
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For Immediate Release: October 29, 2012

Contact: Susie Beiersdorfer: Phone: 234-201-0402   or E-mail: frackfreemahoning@gmail.com

Share Event on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/events/444842725551072
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FRACKING, EARTHQUAKES, INJECTION WELLS, AND CONTAMINATION RISKS TO DRINKING WATER, AIR, AND SOIL TO BE DISCUSSED AT A FRACKFREE MAHONING VALLEY PUBLIC TOWNHALL – STYLE MEETING ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012, AT THE ELM STREET YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, UNITARIAN CHURCH

Youngstown, Ohio, 10/29/12 – An increasing number of citizens are expressing concerns about hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and related processes, earthquakes, injection wells, and fracking-related contamination risks to drinking water, soil, and air. To address some of these concerns,  Frackfree Mahoning Valley (www.frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com  ) and Frackfree America National Coalition (www.frackfreeamerica.org ) will hold a series of public townhall-style meetings for the community to get accurate information, to ask questions, voice their concerns, and seek positive solutions to safeguard the public health and safety as it relates to fracking.  The first public meeting will take place on Thursday, November 1, 2012, at 7 PM to 8:30 PM at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, Channing Hall, 1105 Elm St. (Elm and Illinois, across from Wick Park)

The public and media are invited and urged to attend.

The meeting will include a presentation about earthquakes and other drilling-related topics by Dr. Ray Beiersdorfer, Ph.D., professor of geology. A showing of some brief, compelling films related to oil and gas drilling will also be shown.  A question and answer period with time for audience discussion will follow.

Frackfree Mahoning Valley says that it is essential for the public to have access to accurate information, transparency, and honest, open dialogue about fracking and related processes especially in light of Youngstown City Council’s recent misguided, erroneous decision to greenlight fracking within city limits, historic Mill Creek Park facing the threat of fracking, and the drilling in the protected watershed area of Meander reservoir, a drinking water source for over 200,000 people in our area.

 “I anticipate another lively discussion on Thursday since this topic involves the prospect of fracking and drilling near or under parks, schools, homes, farms, forests, and cemeteries. It is truly astonishing and unacceptable that fracking in such areas is even considered and permitted,” said Susie Beiersdorfer of Frackfree Mahoning Valley and Frackfree America National Coalition.

See a previous public statement by Frackfree Mahoning Valley regarding fracking here: http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/1/post/2012/09/youngstown-ohio-city-council-rush-to-decision-to-lease-fracking.html

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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Youngstown, Ohio's Historic Mill Creek Park Threatened With Fracking, Oil & Gas Drilling: Urgent Hearing Oct. 25, 2012

Frackfree Mahoning Valley                         News Release

www.frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com/ permanent link: http://frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com/2012/10/youngstown-ohios-historic-mill-creek.html
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For Immediate Release: October 22, 2012

Contact: Susie Beiersdorfer: Phone: 234-201-0402 or E-mail: frackfreemahoning@gmail.com
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YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO’S HISTORIC MILL CREEK PARK FACES THREAT OF FRACKING AND OIL AND GAS DRILLING: GROUPS URGE THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012, AT MILL CREEK METRO PARKS FARM TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS, HEAR SPEAKERS

Youngstown, Ohio, 10/22/12 – Youngstown’s beautiful, historic Mill Creek Park is facing the threat of fracking and gas and oil drilling. Park commissioners are having public meetings to gather information to help them decide whether or not to greenlight fracking in Mill Creek Park.

Concerned citizens of Frackfree Mahoning Valley and Guardians of Mill Creek Park are urging the public to attend an important public meeting on October 25, 2012, at Mill Creek MetroParks Farm 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd. Canfield, OH 44406 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Scheduled speakers at the October 25th meeting are: Ohio State Representative Bob Hagan, Dr. Ted Voneida (neurobiology), Dr. Ray Beiersdorfer, Ph.D, professor of geology. Dr. Voneida and Dr. Beiersdorfer will speak about geology and chemicals that are vented at fracked wells and the adverse effects they have on the environment and health.

“If you care about the park and our surrounding area, we urge you to please come and hear the speakers and voice your concerns to stop fracking from destroying Mill Creek Park. For the residents who live near the park, this is a matter of keeping drilling rigs out of their residential living space. Fracking and related processes jeopardize the public health and safety and are not in the public interest. To permit fracking related drilling near homes, schools, parks, cemeteries, or forests is simply unconscionable and must be stopped. Evidence that some officials are not protecting the public interest is the astonishing news that a fracking well has been permitted about a mile from a nuclear facility in Shippingport, PA, “ said Lynn Anderson, co-founder of the Facebook group Guardians of Mill Creek Park http://www.facebook.com/groups/guardiansmillcreek/.

See: “Permit to drill is only a mile from nuclear plant,” by Rachel Morgan, 10/20/12, Timesonline.com,  http://www.timesonline.com/permit-to-drill-is-only-a-mile-from-nuclear-plant/article_12b10f0b-6b5b-5045-aaf8-582260c9fa80.html

Frackfree Mahoning Valley says it is important that park commissioners and the public fully understand the high risk of leaks, spills, mechanical failures, drinking water contamination, and earthquakes associated with fracking and related processes. Even before fracking ramps up in this area, there have been accidents, including the 5-mile long so-called “brine” waste spill in Fowler and the fish kill in Brookfield.

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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Join & SHARE facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/events/254225554700853/ 

MAIL-IN comments:
Public comment on leasing mineral rights in park -
Mill Creek Park/MetroParks Office
PO BOX 596,
Canfield, OH, 44406

Lily Pond, Mill Creek Park, http://www.facebook.com/events/254225554700853/ 

Youngstown, Ohio, City Council's Selling of Fracking Rights covered by NBC

Youngstown, Ohio on CNBC National News: October 18, 2012. TODAY | Aired on October 18, 2012
City mulls controversial fracking to raise money 

Critics say that “fracking” – pumping water and chemicals into the ground to release oil and gas – is a risky business that can cause water contamination. But cash-strapped cities like Youngstown, Ohio, are contemplating selling mineral rights to allow energy companies to drill and frack. NBC’s Phil LeBeau reports.

LINK if video doesn't play: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/49462258#49462258

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Youngstown City, effective stewards? "The life you save may be your own, or your loved ones."

Youngstown, Ohio, residents testify 2 days to preserve clean Mahoning Valley watershed, this is from Rev. Beasley-Martin,

"For most of my life I have lived within the city limits of Youngstown, Ohio. Eight years ago, my family and I, became concerned about my mother, a Liberty Twp. resident's, ability to drive.We made the difficult decision to also move to Liberty, to better assist her. I made sure we remained as close to Youngstown as possible. We are only 2 streets over from the Stambaugh Golf Course, The Jewish Community Center, and Northside Hospital. What we originally thought was an excellent location is now looking like a potentially deadly one. Our neighbors at the Jewish Community Center have already sold their mineral rights, and if city council approves fracking on public land, the golf course could be next. We will be at a higher risk for spills and blowouts. Nationwide, which is my insurance company, has already stated that they will NOT cover ANY damages connected to hydraulic fracturing. We still owe a substantial mortgage on our house, so if our insurance were cancelled, our loan would be due in full. To make a bad situation even worse, according to Deborah Cowden, MD., residents within a 1/2 mile of active drilling are at a substantial higher risk for respiratory issues, cancer, and other serious ailments. The.more well pads that there are the greater the risk. Part of the mission statement for Youngstown City reads that you are to be effective stewards of public resources while representing the values of our diverse community. Please take this into consideration, as you prepare to cast your vote, as to whether, or not, hydraulic fracturing will be allowed on city property. The life you save may be your own, or your loved ones. ~~ Thank-you, ~~ Rev. Monica Beasley-Martin, Defenders of the Earth Outreach Mission "

MORE INFO or to CALL / SIGN petition:
http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/callyoungstown.html

Mr. Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio, "Have you tried to do anything about it?"

Concerned citizen letter to Mayor Charles Sammarone. Public meeting will be held Oct. 16, 5:30pm, Youngstown City Council PUC Hearing with public comment, City Hall, Phelps Street, 6th floor, Youngstown, Ohio 44503 MORE INFO: http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/callyoungstown.html

Mayor, Council members, and fracktivists,

Thank you so much for the very generous 2 minutes you have allowed me to speak.

I’m tired. I’m so tired. I’m tired, as are so many of my friends, of worrying about what’s going to happen to my drinking water my clean air and my property value. I’m tired of researching and attending meetings, of the incredible amount of time and energy (of which I have little) trying to open up the eyes of people who don’t want to look. I’m tired of the cavalier attitude of council and the mayor on what is a life or death issue for many people, including our friend and neighbor, Jamie Frederick of Coitsville. She nearly died from drinking her toxic well water which had been contaminated by Bocor Inc!

Many of my friends and esteemed colleagues have presented outstanding well-researched presentations to this chamber on the dangers of fracking. Unfortunately it would appear that nobody in a decision making position actually listened to the facts and data or looked at the charts. Presentations were cut short, and fractivists were treated in a condescending manner.

My husband and his friend talked to the mayor who appeared to have little concern for safety issues connected to fracking. If it was good enough for Campbell and Struthers it must be good enough for Youngstown. The bandwagon mentality is irresponsible and inappropriate in this situation.

It was our understanding that council members were instructed by the mayor to hold town halls or educational meetings for their constituents. Did any of them do that? We were not made aware of any such meetings. Susie Beiersdorfer held informational and educational sessions at the Unitarian Church to which all of the city officials were invited. Only Ann Gillam, Nate Pinkard, and Mike Ray attended any of those meetings. It appears that everyone else was too busy, or just didn’t care to learn about the fracking issue.

The mayor himself, when asked if he read the literature, letters, and emails our group has sent, replied that , and I’ll paraphrase, “ Do you know how many emails and letters I get? I can’t possibly read them all” Might I submit to the mayor that if he can’t find time to educate himself about an issue that will affect the health and quality of life of all of his constituents, maybe he should step aside.

I was escorted out of the PUC meeting on September 18th. At that meeting, Rhonda Reda was dazzling council with her alleged knowledge of the gas industry, and of fracking, in particular. I asked a question about how many trucks it would take to set up, frack and dispose of flowback from a single horizontal well. She answered by talking on and on about how many truck trips it would take to build and stock a Walmart. She wouldn’t answer the question. Well, the answer is between 1,100-1,200 truck trips for 1 frack job on one well. I was gently escorted out of that meeting, having had enough of her distortions, her industry spin, and lies. Here’s a question for you that I borrowed from the vice presidential debates. “What’s worse: somebody who lies to the American people, or somebody who interrupts the liar?”

I would to ask the mayor: Seriously, you’re powerless to do anything about a frack well pad in the watershed for the drinking water of all your constituents and also the people of surrounding communities? Have you tried to do anything about it?

In closing, I’m tired of watching my friends and neighbors being dismissed and condescended to at council meetings. I saved this til last, lest whoever reads this be escorted out. Shame on all of you. Shame on all of you.

Judy Vershum

Mayor Sammarone's remarks Jan. 11, 2012, "... but until everybody feels safe and comfortable whether you are in your house or working downtown or you are located anywhere within the city or in the suburbs I am still going to hold the state to a ban on drilling until all this information is gathered and everybody feels safe, that's the most important thing" (First 2 minutes at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMGmmCQIKPA&feature=share )

SIGN PETITON HERE:      http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/callyoungstown.html

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.