MAN-MADE EARTHQUAKES AND FRACKING WASTE INJECTION WELLS: CONCERNED
CITIZENS OF FRACKFREE AMERICA NATIONAL COALITION, BASED IN YOUNGSTOWN,
OHIO, AND FRACKFREE MAHONING VALLEY, WHO EXPERIENCED THE NOW-FAMOUS 4.0
MAGNITUDE 2011 YOUNGSTOWN QUAKE LINKED TO A FRACKING WASTE INJECTION
WELL, REACH OUT TO SEEK DIALOGUE AND INFORMATION SHARING WITH
COMMUNITIES IN AZLE, TEXAS AND PRAGUE, OKLAHOMA, OHIO AND OTHER AREAS
WHERE RESIDENTS ALSO MAY BE SUBJECT TO INDUCED SEISMICITY
Frackfree America National Coalition News Release www.frackfreeamerica.org
_______________________________________________________
For Immediate Release: January 8, 2014
Contact:
frackfreemahoning@gmail.com or
frackfreeamerica@gmail.com
_____________________________________________________
Youngstown, Ohio, January 8, 2014
- The Youngstown, Ohio area is a community that experienced what
residents and scientists now know was at least 109 earthquakes in a
place where there had been no previously recorded quakes. The multiple
Youngstown earthquakes included the now-famous 4.0 magnitude 2011
fracking waste injection well – related quake.
Concerned citizens of Frackfree America National Coalition, based
in Youngstown, and Frackfree Mahoning Valley have been following events
in earthquake-rocked Azle, Texas and earthquake swarms in Oklahoma,
where some reputable scientists suspect that the largest quake, a 5.6
magnitude in Prague, Oklahoma, is linked to injection well operations.
The local citizens’ groups are now reaching out to seek dialogue, share
information, and to open channels of communication with the Azle, Texas
community, with Oklahoma, with Ohio or other states with neighborhoods
that may be experiencing similar situations involving injection wells
and man-made earthquakes. The groups are seeking to work together with
others to find real, fair solutions to our common problems and concerns,
here in Youngstown, Ohio, and other places with apparently similar
issues, like Azle, Texas.
An Azle, Texas townhall meeting took place on January 2, 2014
where over 800 residents gathered to get questions answered by Texas
state officials (the Texas Railroad Commission) about the approximately
30 earthquakes they have had in about the last two months, according to
multiple news reports. In an astonishing turn of events, those
officials reportedly would not answer the concerned citizens’
questions. Residents of the Youngstown area have experienced other
similar situations of a shocking lack of transparency on the part of
their state regulatory agency, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
(ODNR). The Youngstown group says public officials need to be
responsive, honest, and transparent to the public and to the media.
As reported in an especially compelling WFAA.com news article and
video, Melanie Williams spoke of her experience at the Azle townhall
meeting. It was reported that she is a Hurricane Katrina survivor who
relocated to Azle where she is experiencing the earthquakes that some
suspect will be scientifically found to be linked to injection well
disposal. She said she had to move from her home in Texas because of
foundation problems and major leaks, according to the WFAA news report
that follows:
See “Angry Azle crowd disappointed by lack of answers regarding quakes,” by Teresa Woodard, WFAA, January 2, 2014 at
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/tarrant/Angry-Azle-crowd-disappointed-by-lack-of-answers-regarding-earthquakes-238543171.html
Ray Beiersdorfer, Ph.D., Professor of Geology at Youngstown
State University, gave information, in a December 27, 2013 news release,
which is highly relevant for the ongoing earthquake/injection well
issues in Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, and other states where man-made
earthquakes, also known as induced seismicity, may be taking place:
“It is especially disconcerting that residents in Prague, Oklahoma
experienced a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that reputable scientists think
may possibly be linked to deep disposal well injection of toxic fracking
waste. An earthquake of this magnitude can cause human injury and
collapsed buildings – especially in areas where earthquakes are not
common and infrastructure is not reinforced to safeguard against
earthquake damage. We already had 109 earthquakes in Youngstown, Ohio,
including the 4.0 on December 31, 2011. Human beings cannot regulate
earthquakes to make sure that they stay small. This is especially true
because the two faults under Youngstown have been destabilized. This is
an irreversible effect of the D&L Northstar 1 injection-induced
seismicity. We must stop injection wells now to help to prevent a
possible 5.6 or greater magnitude quake, as well as smaller tremors,”
said geologist Dr. Ray Beiersdorfer.
Dealing with the risks and realities of injecting millions of
gallons of toxic fracking waste into deep injection wells along with the
possibility of induced seismicity is still an on-going problem in Ohio.
Even though there is a history of injection well-related earthquakes in
Ohio, injection wells continue to be permitted by the state agency,
ODNR.
For example,
the Youngstown-based groups, Frackfree America and Frackfree Mahoning
Valley, are currently working toward increasing public awareness
nationally and locally of a Niles, Ohio area injection well that is now
being built despite local community laws enacted in Weathersfield
Township and Niles banning injection wells. ODNR permitted it anyway,
and it is now being built. The groups believe that this injection
well’s close proximity to the epicenter of the 2011 Youngstown 4.0
magnitude quake shows inadequate concern by ODNR for public health and
safety.
Also
of great concern is an injection well being considered by the Ohio
state agency to be built in Conneaut, Ohio, a city in Northeastern Ohio
near the Pennsylvania border. Conneaut is only about 15 miles from
Ashtabula, Ohio, the site of a series of earthquakes related to
injection well disposal of Class I waste. The strongest earthquake there
was a 4.3 magnitude quake in January 2001. The rational, responsible
reaction by the state of Ohio would be for the ODNR to deny the permit
based upon public health and safety issues, but will they? According to
the
Star Beacon, there is a 15 day public comment
period regarding the permitting of this injection well, but again, will
the ODNR listen? For details see:
“Brine injection well sought for Conneaut,” by Mark Todd,
Star Beacon, January 4, 2014 at:
http://www.starbeacon.com/local/x1186907238/Brine-injection-well-sought-for-Conneaut/print
“A
Fluid-Injection-Triggered Earthquake Sequence in Ashtabula, Ohio:
Implications for Seismogenesis in Stable Continental Regions,” by
Leonardo Seeber, John G. Armbruster and Won-Young Kim, Bulletin of the
Seismological Society of America, February, 2004, vol. 94, no. 1, 76-87
at:
http://www.bssaonline.org/content/94/1/76.abstract
Yet another deep injection well permit has been applied for in
Brookfield, Ohio, near Youngstown. See: “Injection well planned for
site in Brookfield,” by Brenda J. Linert,
Tribune Chronicle, January 6, 2014 at:
http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/597720/Injection-well-planned-for-site-in-Brookfield.html?nav=5021
See information about the Ashtabula and Youngstown earthquakes: “Ohio
earthquake was not a natural event, expert says,” by Kim Palmer,
Reuters, January 3, 2012 at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/04/us-earthquake-ohio-idUSTRE80302220120104
“Our position is that the injection wells must stop now as a measure to
protect the public’s health, safety, and well-being. Millions upon
millions of gallons of toxic fracking waste are continually being
produced. The waste has to go somewhere. Where is it all going to go?
There is no good, safe solution for this problem at this time. For the
sake of protecting the public interest, the enormous amount of toxic
fracking waste needs to stop being produced in the first place. There is
no good place to put it,” said geologist Susie Beiersdorfer of
Youngstown, Ohio.
Frackfree America and
Frackfree Mahoning Valley
believe that science and common sense must prevail over politics and
greed when it comes to toxic fracking waste injection wells, risks of
drinking water contamination, and man-made earthquakes. The best
interest of the public’s health, safety, and well-being must come
first. A solution must be implemented quickly to protect the public.
The groups say that in addition to safety, public health, private
property, property value, and general well-being issues, proper
democratic processes must be followed relevant to the gas and oil
industry, which should immediately be required to follow the rule of law
without special exemptions or special treatment. Local control and
self-governance must be upheld. (See the Community Bill of Rights
Committee, December 27, 2013 news release below for more details about
earthquakes, injection wells, and local control.)
The groups believe that it is not fair for officials to imply that
since studies are being done, injection well operations should continue
despite the concerns and real damage taking place now – including
serious adverse effects to the quality of life of residents experiencing
the earthquakes. Citizens are concerned, and rightly so, that the
earthquakes could get bigger or more frequent. Even the effects of
smaller, repeated earthquakes on infrastructure, walls, house
foundations, bridges, or dams need to be considered.
Since some officials, who are supposed to protect the public health,
safety, and general public interest, seem to be ducking out the back
door and apparently refusing to speak with the media, it is important
for communities to legally protect their own families and
neighborhoods. The Texas official’s refusal to speak with media after
the Azle townhall meeting was yet another shocking example of lack of
transparency by state officials who are supposed to be accountable to
the public.
Similar ignoring or minimizing the public’s
legitimate concerns has also happened in other states, including Ohio.
State officials are accountable to the public. The public pays their
salaries. They should speak with the public or media in real time when
the media request interviews.
Concerned citizens of
Frackfree America
and Frackfree Mahoning Valley are reaching out with information,
experts, and human compassion and empathy for what residents in
earthquake swarm areas must be going through right now. It sounds
strikingly similar to what happened in Youngstown in 2011. So far, the
public is left to pay for any earthquake damage, and injection wells
continue to be permitted by the state.
See: KDFW Fox 4
news video and article, “Lack of answers at earthquake meeting rattles
Azle residents,” by Brandon Todd, January 2, 2014 at:
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/24345933/community-to-meet-on-earthquakes#ixzz2pMBLYz8k
See: 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
Frackfree America and Frackfree Mahoning Valley say it is time
for clear-thinking adults to stand together in unity and to legally
intervene to stop this irrational quest for corporate profits while some
ignore the real adverse effects of fracking and related processes and
infrastructure, including injection well-related seismicity, and risks
of air, soil, and water pollution. Those of us from different states
can learn from each other and share scientific and other valid
information among ourselves. The people need to be heard. We are not
expendable. No one is expendable.
For more information,
please see the following press release: "Fracking, Earthquakes, Water,
and Local Government Control: Youngstown, Ohio and Niles, Ohio Area
Concerned Citizens Seek to Affirm Local Self-Governance Rights to
Protect Their Public Health, Safety, General Welfare, Property Values,
and Private Property Rights" (12/27/13) that provides information about
earthquakes and injection wells, as well as other topics:
http://bit.ly/1bSbBUb or
http://www.frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com/2013/12/FrackingEarthquakesWaterLocalControlYoungstownOhio.html
A Frackfree America National Coalition Facebook post has many
informative links regarding Azle area earthquakes and townhall news
reports at:
https://www.facebook.com/Frackfree/posts/466240923482697
The following video is a recording of a large public
informational meeting about the earthquakes and injection well in
Youngstown, Ohio, that took place in January, 2012, at the Covelli
Centre after the Youngstown earthquakes. Especially see the discussion
between the state geologist and a Youngstown City Councilman about the
inability to predict where a fault lies until “activities” start -
“after the fact,” at minute 1:21:55:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMGmmCQIKPA&feature=player_embedded
People living near heavy industrial fracking operations talk
about their experience: “Westwood Lake Nightmare” (published June 23,
2013); Trumbull County, Ohio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UEfXg9km5Q
Editorial: Star-Telegram, “Texas Railroad Commission can’t just tippy-toe around quakes,” January 4, 2014 at:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/01/04/5458804/texas-railroad-commission-cant.html
“Surprise quakes stir up Tarrant County residents, by Jim Malewitz, Texas Tribune, January 5, 2014, Arlington Voice at:
http://www.arlingtonvoice.com/story/news/01/05/2014/surprise-quakes-shake-tarrant-county-residents
For media inquiries or for more information contact Frackfree
America National Coalition, based in Youngstown, Ohio or Frackfree
Mahoning Valley:
The
Frackfree America National Coalition, based in Youngstown, 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
Follow
Frackfree America National Coalition on Twitter:
@frackfree
Frackfree Mahoning Valley:
http://www.frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com/
For Media inquiries or for more information, please call or e-mail
Frackfree America National Coalition at:
234-201-8007 or frackfreeamerica@gmail.com
or
Frackfree Mahoning Valley at:
234-201-0402 or e-mail: frackfreemahoning@gmail.com
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ORIGINAL 2012 IMAGE POST HERE on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=338625309490603&set=a.316172085069259.83444.205575299462272&
