Youngstown Earthquake Tremors, Voter Suppression, Toxic Fracking Wastewater To Be Discussed Sept. 5, 2013 Youngstown, Ohio

Post by Youngstown Community Bill of Rights-Vote YES on Nov 5.

Background on the challenge to placing issue on the ballot:
http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/aug/31/legal-challenge-awaits-anti-fracking-pro

IMP - SCROLL DOWN TO PART 2 - FRIDAY 5 PM SEPTEMBER 6, 2013
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IMPORTANT PUBLIC TOWNHALL STYLE MEETING ORGANIZED BY THE YOUNGSTOWN COMMUNITY BILL OF RIGHTS COMMITTEE AND FRACKFREE MAHONING VALLEY TO TAKE PLACE ON: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013, AT THE YOUNGSTOWN UNITARIAN CHURCH AT 7 PM TO 9 PM: ALL MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO ATTEND 

DOWNLOAD FLIER as WORD DOC file HERE
EVENT on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/688452794516896/
 

Youngstown, Ohio, September 4, 2013  –  Especially in light of the newly released 109 Youngstown earthquake tremors study and other recent developments, the September 5^th open public townhall style meeting organized by members of the Youngstown Community Bill of Rights Committee and Frackfree Mahoning Valley, a group of concerned citizens who oppose fracking and related processes, will be a very important one. 

All members of the media are invited to please attend the townhall, which will take place at The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, located at 1105 Elm St., Youngstown, Ohio (Elm & Illinois) on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 7 PM to 9 PM. 

“The newly released scientific study of the 109 Youngstown earthquakes and other fracking related events further corroborate our position that fracking cannot be done safely with the technology as it stands today.  In addition, the fact that heavy industrial fracking operations are being permitted near homes, children’s schools, farms, parks, forests, or cemeteries provides overwhelming evidence that this needs to stop now in order to protect the public health, safety, well-being, and also private property rights and property values,” said Susie Beiersdorfer.

The group says that this second townhall meeting is designed to help inform the public of all aspects of fracking, injection wells, and other related processes. The group will show some compelling, brief informational films at the beginning, make a statement, and will open up the floor to public or media questions, comments, feedback, or concerns. They also welcome local and state officials to attend the townhall.

To see a flyer for the September 5^th townhall, please visit:

www.frackfreemahoning.blogspot.com

For media inquiries or more information, please contact the group via Frackfree Mahoning Valley at: 

234-201-0402   or  e-mail:  frackfreemahoning@gmail.com

Text from a flyer that the group is distributing appears below:

 

You are invited to an open public Townhall style meeting: Thursday, September 5, 2013 in Youngstown

Are you concerned about fracking earthquakes, safe drinking water issues, pollution, gas flaring, or other fracking-related shale drilling concerns?  Do you want to know more about:

-- Toxic fracking waste injection wells?

-- Private property or property value concerns?  

-- Protecting Mill Creek Park?

Want to learn more about the Youngstown Community Bill of Rights Charter Amendment, your right to local self-governance, and how, on Friday Sept. 6^th, 2013 there is a hearing concerning doing away with this right? Would you like to learn about what you can do to protect your community and your family?

Please come to this ”open to the public” forum where we invite you to share your concerns, ask questions, or provide information and feedback – or, if you prefer, just listen and watch the brief informational films and important discussion to follow.

Please come to The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, located at 1105 Elm St., Youngstown, Ohio (Elm & Illinois) on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 7 PM to 9 PM.

Together we can find positive solutions to help our neighborhoods thrive.  Please attend and bring a friend!  Thanks in advance.

For more information, please contact us via Frackfree Mahoning Valley at:  Phone: 234-201-0402   or  e-mail:  frackfreemahoning@gmail.com    For general info see:

www.frackfreeamerica.org  

[This informational meeting is organized by the Youngstown Community Bill of Rights Committee and concerned citizens of Frackfree Mahoning Valley.]

PART 2 - FRIDAY 5 PM SEPTEMBER 6, 2013 

You are invited to an open PUBLIC MEETING at the Board of Elections, 345 Oak Hill Ave. 5pm Friday, September 6, 2013 in Youngstown

The citizens of Youngstown signed petitions to place a ballot initiative, The Community Bill of Rights on the November 5, 2013 ballot:

-- to protect our drinking water,

-- to protect our breathable air,  

-- to protect our homes from earthquakes,

no matter what businesses come to Youngstown.

Citizens worked hard to get this issue on the ballot enabling each person to vote for or against local self-governance in order to protect the community.

Now a coalition has filed a protest to keep this important issue off the ballot. Please come to this “open to the public” meeting.

Please come to The Board of Elections on the first floor of the Oakhill Renaissance Center, located at 345 Oak Hill Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio  on Friday, September 6, 2013 at 5PM.

The legal counsel for the Youngstown Community Bill of Rights will defend the citizens’ right to vote.  Please attend and bring a friend!  Thanks in advance.

For more information, please contact us via Frackfree Mahoning Valley at:  Phone: 234-201-0402   or  e-mail:  frackfreemahoning@gmail.com    For general info see:
www.frackfreeamerica.org  
[This informational meeting is organized by the Youngstown Community Bill of Rights Committee and concerned citizens of Frackfree Mahoning Valley.]
 

Townhall - Youngstown, OH, Learn About Fracking Earthquakes, safe drinking water issues, pollution, gas flaring, or other fracking-related shale drilling concerns

Post by Youngstown Community Bill of Rights-Vote YES on Nov 5.

You are invited to an open public Townhall style meeting: Thursday, September 5, 2013 in Youngstown, Ohio

DOWNLOAD FLIER as WORD DOC file HERE
EVENT on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/688452794516896/

Are you concerned about fracking earthquakes, safe drinking water issues, pollution, gas flaring, or other fracking-related shale drilling concerns?  Do you want to know more about:

-- Toxic fracking waste injection wells?

-- Private property or property value concerns?  

-- Protecting Mill Creek Park?

Want to learn more about the Youngstown Community Bill of Rights Charter Amendment, your right to local self-governance, and what you can do to protect your community and your family?

Please come to this ”open to the public” forum where we invite you to share your concerns, ask questions, or provide information and feedback – or, if you prefer, just listen and watch the brief informational films and important discussion to follow.

Please come to The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, located at 1105 Elm St., Youngstown, Ohio (Elm & Illinois) on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 7 PM to 9 PM.

Together we can find positive solutions to help our neighborhoods thrive.  Please attend and bring a friend!  Thanks in advance.

For more information, please contact us via Frackfree Mahoning Valley at:  Phone: 234-201-0402   or  e-mail:  frackfreemahoning@gmail.com    For general info see:

www.frackfreeamerica.org  

[This informational meeting is organized by the Youngstown Community Bill of Rights Committee and concerned citizens of Frackfree Mahoning Valley.]

Youngstown, OH - National Tour of New Fracking Documentary Starts in Ohio - Triple Divide Screenings

Triple Divide Screening @ Youngstown's B&O Brewery / Banquet Hall

530 Mahoning Ave, Youngstown, OH 44502

Sunday, September 22, 2013 

PDF link to download poster: www.dropbox.com/s/zylbfory4w7dpjg/Ohio_Triple_Divide_Tour...

 PDF link to download Youngstown fliers:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/vnf7ogfsn2llbr0/triple_divide_youngstown_flyer.pdf

from the filmmakers' Flickr caption:

New Fracking Documentary Starts National Tour in Ohio

A new documentary, Triple Divide, investigates the impacts of fracking for shale gas in Pennsylvania, and is headed to the Heartland this September for the Ohio Triple Divide Tour: 10 dates in 10 locations. It’s the beginning of a national tour covering eight states in shale plays across the U.S.
Academy Award nominated actor Mark Ruffalo co-narrates the film, taking part in the project after being shown an online screener a few weeks before the final release.
Triple Divide is said to be the only documentary of its kind on the controversial subject of fracking capable of speaking to all sides, with exclusive interviews from the industry, experts, and Americans suffering in the wake of shale gas development.
“It’s hard to imagine anyone could have a fully-informed opinion about fracking without seeing Triple Divide,” said Jed Thorp of the Ohio Sierra Club.

The evidence in Triple Divide is built on cradle-to-grave investigations throughout the film’s 10 chapters, which cover waste, injection wells, drinking water contamination, split-estates, the “pre-drill test scandal”, and the “pressure bulb” to name a few. The 90-minute documentary is a project by PublicHerald.org, a nonprofit organization co-founded by journalists Joshua Pribanic & Melissa Troutman, who are also the film’s co-directors.

Pribanic is an Ohio native, who says the tour is an educational opportunity for all communities. “Audiences should expect to see things they've never witnessed or heard before,” remarked Pribanic. “We offer raw data and evidence from the field, something that's neither republican nor democrat.”
Hard-hitting, Triple Divide is also fair. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is highlighted in the film for weakly enforced regulations, but “the head of ‘Oil & Gas’ at DEP, Scott Perry, told me he's seen the film and it’s very well done,” said Troutman. “This attests to Public Herald's journalistic integrity and ability to reach both ends of the public spectrum: community members and heads of state.
“Triple Divide is a springboard for discussion about the real impacts from fracking, and it’s a forewarning for states like Ohio, New York and California.”

Troutman hails from the triple continental divide in Potter County, Pennsylvania where much of the documentary is set. It’s also where the most highly regulated classified streams are located but have been damaged by fracking — a story documented in the “Exceptional Value” chapter of the film. 

The tour launches in Columbus, OH on September 10th, 7:00PM at the Gateway Film Center, hosted by the Ohio Environmental Council. On September 12, the filmmakers travel to Mansfield, OH for a free 6:00PM show at Relax It’s Just Coffee, with eight additional screenings before the month’s end, closing out the tour in Sandusky, OH at Harlequins Community Theatre — the oldest running community theatre in the state.

For a detailed list of screening times and locations for the Ohio Triple Divide Tour, see tripledividefilm.org/screenings. Email Melissa@publicherlad.org and Joshua@publicherald.org, or call (419) 202-8503 for more information and to schedule interviews with the filmmakers.

For photographs and stills from the film: flic.kr/s/aHsjE3Tb8F

Trailer: vimeo.com/ondemand/tripledivide/63571188

Reviews: tripledividefilm.org/about/reviews/

The filmmakers have made one chapter “Good Neighbor” available for online preview: vimeo.com/publicherald/goodneighbor

*Based on our experiences as journalists in the shale fields, the term ‘fracking’ has transformed from a nickname for the process of hydraulic fracturing to meaning the complete picture of shale gas extraction. See Public Herald’s “What is Fracking?” video for a simplified explanation of the concept behind the practice.

PUBLIC HERALD
t r u t h + c r e a t i v i t y
Joshua B. Pribanic, Editor-in-Chief
p: 419.202.8503
t: @jbpribanic
Melissa Troutman, Managing Editor
p: 724.388.0464
t: @melissat22

THE YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, COMMUNITY BILL OF RIGHTS COMMITTEE SEEKS YOUNGSTOWN VOTER SIGNATURES TO PUT A QUESTION ON THE NOVEMBER 2013 BALLOT TO UPHOLD LOCAL CONTROL AND FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS TO CLEAN AIR AND WATER

 

Youngstown, Ohio, July 19, 2013 – They’re back and more determined than ever to win on election day in November 2013. The Youngstown, Ohio, Community Bill of Rights Committee is coordinating a new door-to-door campaign to get the required number of registered Youngstown voter signatures to put a question on the November ballot. 

The group says that a Yes vote on that ballot question would uphold Youngstown citizens’ fundamental rights to protect their family’s safe drinking water, clean air, and land, and to local self-governance.

“We came so close to winning last time that we fully expect to win the vote in November. In this past May’s election, we only needed 8 percent more to pass the Community Bill of Rights charter amendment.  We had almost 3,000 Youngstown voters who did the right thing by voting Yes, and that is very impressive and very good news. We thank them,” said Youngstown resident Lynn Anderson.

The group believes that the increasing number of high-profile scientific findings, government reports, news reports and claims by people living near fracking-related operations is awakening more and more people to the need for a Community Bill of Rights to help Youngstown prevent dangers, civil rights violations, and risks associated with fracking and related processes, infrastructure, and millions of gallons of fracking waste.

“Nationwide and locally there are unconventional fracking wells and heavy industrial infrastructure that are way too close to homes, schools, parks, cemeteries, farms, and forests. Millions of gallons of our precious drinking water are being made permanently unusable due to the massive amounts of water used to frack each well.  Each well pad can have numerous legs that can also be fracked. How can these heavy industrialized operations be permitted so close to homes, farms, or residential areas? This is not right.  We need local control to protect our community’s public health and safety and to enforce how we want our communities to be. When the Community Bill of Rights passes in November, 2013, fracking and related activities will be banned in Youngstown as violations of the community’s fundamental rights,” said Susie Beiersdorfer.

The Community Bill of Rights Committee points to unconventional fracking going on in the protected area of this local region’s drinking water, a source for at least 200,000 people as a risky activity and one that should never have been allowed to occur. They wonder how the state could have permitted fracking operations so close to a source of drinking water, our Meander Reservoir Drinking Water Source Protection Area.

The group cites an example from nearby Weathersfield Township of what could come to Youngstown if the Community Bill of Rights does not pass in November.  An unconventional horizontal fracking well operation was placed very close to Westwood Lake Mobile Home Park residents, many of whom are retired.   Since then, residents have experienced diesel fumes, vibrations so strong that pictures on the wall moved, continuous noise, bright lights, and other nightmares that severely, unfairly, and adversely affect their quality of life.  Recently, Westwood Lake residents had to contend with extreme noise and air quality issues from flaring of the well.  The following video shows their suffering:

“Westwood Lake Nightmare” (published June 23, 2013)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UEfXg9km5Q

“Think about it. What if this was your mother, grandmother or another family member being forced to endure this unfair and unhealthy situation?  We need to protect our loved ones from this kind of unjust intrusion and threat to public health, safety, and well-being. This is America. We can do better than this. In America we all equally deserve liberty and justice – fairness is not just for the few, “ said Susie Beiersdorfer.

The Community Bill of Rights Committee and supporters say that a Yes vote will protect our inalienable rights and clarify that local elected authorities do indeed have the power – and the duty - to protect their constituents’ public health, safety, and well-being, and families in their jurisdiction.  The fundamental rights of local communities cannot be legislated away by state governments.  The Community Bill of Rights will be a much-needed return to the rule of law. 

The group cites the earthquakes as another big concern for our area and other states. For a recent mention of the now-famous 4.0 magnitude Youngstown fracking waste injection well-related earthquake and important new earthquake/injection well scientific information, please see:

Reuters: “Distant seismic activity can trigger quakes at ‘fracking’ sites,” by Sharon Begley, July 11, 2013 at:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/11/science-fracking-earthquakes-idUSL1N0FG0VT20130711

The group will soon announce a newly revised website where visitors can volunteer, donate, or get further information about the Community Bill of Rights.
For media inquiries, more information, and/or to volunteer to help the Community Bill of Rights effort, please contact the group via Frackfree Mahoning Valley at: 
234-201-0402   or  e-mail:  frackfreemahoning@gmail.com
                                                                 # # #

The Life You Save May Be Your Own - Youngstown To Vote YES May 7

Truths, Part 1 of 2, April 19, 2013: An Answer to Alan D. Wenger’s Polemical and Partisan Q & A Regarding the Proposed Youngstown Charter Amendment

The Vote is May 7, 2013 Primary Ballot
PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT - CITY OF YOUNGSTOWN - A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage: Shall Section 4, Community Bill of Rights, of the Charter of the City of Youngstown be enacted?

(The citizens of Youngstown, Ohio used the democratic process and followed all the procedures to get this crucial Charter Amendment on the ballot.)

In his Author’s note, as he did his best to persuade citizens of Youngstown to vote against their own best interest against the Community Bill of Rights, Alan D. Wenger said this: “It was prepared at the request of individual city legislators and officials who asked for background information from my experience and perspective as an attorney active in representing largely landowners with their oil and gas leasing and development issues. Nothing here should be relied upon as attorney-client advice.”   Alan D. Wenger's full opinion piece can be read HERE.

I agree. Nothing in Mr. Wenger’s opinions should be seen as anything other than partisan rhetoric representing the interests of those standing to profit at the expense of the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City of Youngstown. Nor should his opinion be “relied upon as attorney-client advice,” as he clearly cautions us.

And so what value can we attach to Mr. Wenger’s long harangue against the proposed Community Bill of Rights? He wrote this:

Q. Why this charter amendment?

Alan Wenger: In 2004 Ohio like many other states established state-wide uniform laws and regulations  governing utilities and services needed all across the state that preempted local government organizations (including home rule cities and townships) that might desire to establish local conflicting laws. State preemption addresses “NIMBY” (Not in My Back Yard) laws that would make it impossible to have efficient development of resources, distribution of electricity, cell service, telephone service, natural gas, and many other similar public needs. Preemption laws vary from state to state. Ohio’s laws are clear: A city cannot pass laws that would preempt state laws and regulations concerning oil and gas development.

Lynn Anderson: [I am the concerned citizen who originally contacted the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund and my legal aid lawyer, Jim Callen to write the original ordinance(in April 2012) and now, the ballot initiative (Oct. 2012): The Youngstown Community Bill of Rights. We modeled our Home Rule City Charter Amendment on the Pittsburgh charter that was written in response to the preemptive Pennsylvania Oil and Gas act. Youngstown residents are fighting Ohio's preemptive state laws beginning with H.B. 278 which took away our local control.
Due to the Ohio Legislature passing many preemptive state laws: beginning in 2001 and up to the present day -
    1.  H.B. 94: oil and gas companies do not have declare dangerous chemicals;
    2. H.B.133: oil and gas companies can drill under any state universities, state parks,
    3. H.B. 278 oil and gas companies can site drilling operations and pipelines anywhere and local communities have neither input nor right of appeal 
    4.S.B. 315 further strengthens physician gag orders regarding people being sickened by fracking chemicals with “Designate without Disclosing”;
Youngstown citizens are standing up to PROTECT THEMSELVES since state and local officials are not.]

Wenger: The proponents of the Youngstown Charter Amendment were guided by a national non-profit group headquartered in Pennsylvania, the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (www.celd.org/). The CELD and its local adherents who circulated petitions to get this issue on the ballot see Youngstown as just another battle ground in their war against fossil fuels and “corporations.”

Anderson: [First, it is CELDF, not CELD. Second, it was not the CELDF organization that circulated the petition. It was local community organizers who asked for CELDF support, and it is they who circulated the petitions and assembled the support of City residents to place the question on the ballot.]

Wenger: The CELD supplied the boilerplate “Community Bill of Rights” language and methods for getting sufficient petition signatures, asking residents if they would support an initiative to promote a “Community Bill of Rights to have clean air and water.”

Anderson:  [In fact, CELDF worked with community members and Attorney Jim Callen of Northeast Ohio Legal Services to customize the Community Bill of Rights for Youngstown.]

Wenger: Who would not sign on to that proposition, particularly without first reading the fine print?

Anderson:  [We walked door to door and showed the entire Charter Amendment to each citizen, each petition signer saw and read the proposed Charter Amendment, as is required by law].

Wenger: In fact the CELD, as reflected on its website, is a strident, partisan advocacy group challenging centralized government regulation of utilities and energy resourcesi and instead favors strictly individual rights and controls.

Anderson: [In fact, CELDF is stridently NON-PARTISAN and advocates for the rights of those affected by governing decisions to make them. Plus, our citizens who got petition signatures happen to be members of the Green Party, Republican Party, Democrat Party and unaffiliated, Independent voters.]

Wenger: Its mission is not based upon political or physical sciences, engineering, best means of governance and planning theory, but rather on pure political populism. It favors a sweeping “power to the individual” approach, and doesn’t appear to worry much about the havoc its approach would create upon public services, safety, health, and welfare. It is blatantly “anticorporation,” but fails to provide any viable alternatives for addressing the vast needs for energy, utilities, goods and services that are particularly critical to urban populations.

Anderson: [Our Citizen activists started getting all the rigorous, scholarly scientific research on hydrofracturing beginning in March of 2011. We invited all of our local elected officials to attend 4 educational town halls at the Unitarian Church only 2 council people and one park board commissioner came to a couple of them. The James Dale ETHICS center of YSU paid for a video teleconference with Tony Ingraffea, PhD of Cornell, the national expert on frack well dangers. It was held at YSU and only the Washington pro-fracking lobbyist group EID attended, to film and get material for Dan Alfaro to dispute in the Vindicator. CELDF supports good science, and then asserts the right of communities to review good studies and incorporate them into democratic decision-making, rather than allow industry propaganda dictate democratic decision-making.Youngstown Citizens were especially concerned since ODNR tried to tell us none of the earthquakes were caused by the D&L Injection well, which has been proven now to be untrue.]

 Wenger: The CELD is pushing an “end run” around Ohio’s established system of laws, as well as the Ohio and US constitutions, by promoting this ballot initiative in Youngstown, even when at least some of what it is pushing is clearly not enforceable.

Anderson:  [It is a false claim to say that the state of OH can license and permit corporations to engage in activities that violate the fundamental rights of citizens of the state. The Youngstown initiative simply asserts the higher law of fundamental rights and clarifies that the State has no authority to issue “permits” that legalize the violation of fundamental rights.]

Wenger: This organization is playing games with Youngstown’s future, though it has little stake in the outcome or responsibility for the harm it could create.

Anderson:  [The writer (Mr. Wenger) has NO stake in the violation of the rights of Youngstown residents and is disingenuous to make this claim. He does NOT live in Youngstown. CELDF has no other purpose but the empowerment of citizens in their communities. It is our mission. What is the mission of Mr. Wenger? He had an opportunity to read the mission of CELDF and truthfully report it. He chose not to. I personally resent this irresponsible statement. We citizens are trying to PROTECT OURSELVES FROM HARM.]

Q. Has this been done in other cities?

Wenger:  Yes, but not under similar facts or with such critical risk to the citizens involved.

Anderson: [Mr. Wenger tells an untruth here: Pittsburgh, PA, Broadview Heights, Ohio, Mansfield, Ohio and Yellow Springs, Ohio with many more communities trying to protect themselves from the bad STATE laws by this November’s elections.]

Ohio [examples]. Wenger: The same promoters of this amendment have gotten laws passed in a couple of Ohio cities (like Yellow Springs and Mansfield) where there is virtually no oil and gas activity in comparison to what has been occurring in Youngstown.

Anderson: [Mr. Wenger fails to mention Broadview Heights, where in 2012 a Charter Amendment nearly identical to the one proposed for Youngstown was adopted, and where drilling has been going on for a long time.]

[continuing] Wenger:  There has been no review by Ohio courts of this sort of charter amendment or ordinance, though Ohio courts have just again clearly upheld the constitutionality of state laws preempting local city laws regarding oil and gas. It would seem that at least
some major portions of the proposed amendment (those banning oil and gas activities) would be unenforceable, or illegal.

Anderson: [Mr. Wenger fails to consider the possibility of challenging standing law. Law does not change without challenge. In a democracy, challenging existing law is the essence of social advancement. This is something unforeseen and beyond the imagination of predictable and uncreative legal minds, such as the authors’.]

Pittsburgh [example]. Wenger: Proponents often mention that the same law was passed in Pittsburgh.  Pittsburgh did pass a law regarding certain oil and gas development, but it was significantly less strident and overreaching compared to Youngstown’s proposed amendment.

Anderson: [Pittsburgh’s council voted Unanimously to BAN FRACKING. In fact, Pittsburgh City Council adopted the first Community Bill of Rights banning gas extraction in 2010, and the Youngstown proposed Charter Amendment is closely modeled upon it. They had a DUMPING of hazardous frack waste into the Monongahela which threatened drinking water and THEIR councilmembers acted WISELY!]

Wenger: But, far more important, Pennsylvania does not have the state preemption laws Ohio has regarding oil and gas development.  Therefore, the Pittsburgh law should not be compared to what is being pushed on Youngstown

Anderson: [This is a simple lie. Pennsylvania adopted it’s “Oil and Gas Act” to preempt any local regulation of oil and gas extraction. However, the Community Bills of Rights, such as those adopted by Pittsburgh and proposed for Youngstown, do not violate such preemptive laws. To protect rights is not the same as regulating oil or gas extraction. To say rights are higher law than oil and gas extraction regulations is not inconsequential. In fact, they are the very point.]

Q. Why is the defeat of this charter amendment so vital for Youngstown?

Wenger: 1. Due to of geology and geography, northeast Ohio has become a focus for Utica shale oil  and gas development. V&M Star has invested over $1 billion in upgrading and adapting facilities, with active involvement of the City of Youngstown, in order to manufacture products for the Utica shale industry, as has Exterran, creating thousands of jobs. Other Youngstown city and area industries have benefited greatly from the new oil and gas opportunities, as have the residents and taxpayers and city government, from the influx of jobs and opportunities. The obvious intention of this amendment is to halt that opportunity, waste benefits to the city, and drive the development to other communities (where it would be welcomed with open arms).

Anderson:  [Making money is the priority. The truth comes to the surface. We don’t want to be the SACRIFICE ZONE so the upper 1% can make massive profits exporting LNG to China. It will cost us our health. From North Dakota with 1,100 spills and dumpings  in 2011 to the huge Sissonville, W. Va. pipeline explosion to the many accidents and blowouts throughout Pennsylvania including methane geysers up old abandoned wells from fracking fissures,  explosions, spills and dumpings (not unlike Lupo’s):  We cannot expend millions of gallons of water per frack, we cannot get cancer from the radioactive flowback water! This is no way to harvest natural gas. We do not want jobs that will kill our neighbors, we will not risk our lives for money.]

[continuing] Wenger: 2. The City of Youngstown and surrounding communities (particularly west into the  Meander Reservoir Watershed area) have for decades and generations been very active with oil and gas drilling. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website interactive maps, there appear to be around 100 permitted oil and gas wells within the limits of the City of Youngstown, and many hundreds more directly to the west of the City of Youngstown (in the Meander Reservoir area). It is highly likely that any of those wells involved in production of oil and gas over the decades has been “fracked,” and many multiple times. Each of the producing wells generates brine that is transported and disposed of. Each well generates oil and gas that needs to be transported. Some of those wells were drilled into shale layers, utilizing drilling technology available at the time. The “fractivists” promoting the charter amendment apparently had no problem with this massive oil and gas development in the City of Youngstown and its surroundings until now.

Anderson: [It is crucial that Youngstown citizens know our Ohio Department of Natural Resources granted a hydrofracturing drilling permit to CNX Gas Co., LLC who has 148 Department of Environmental Penna. VIOLATIONS for accidents, dumping and spills of toxic hazardous fracking waste. Their first vertical drilling (before they drilled 2 more horizontals near Meander Reservoir) caused a 4 foot long split in the casing that Halliburton concreted shut (yes, the DEEP HORIZON OIL SPILL CONCRETE FAILURE company). The MVSD was not notified the well would be drilled in the PROTECTED drinking water area of Meander Watershed, nor were they told October 13, 2012 that the casing FAILED !! Now our county commissioners have sold over 11 millions of gallons of water from the MVSD to help a frack well endanger the drinking water for the City of Youngstown?]
[NOT ACCEPTABLE!]

[continuing] Wenger: The proposed charter amendment would literally make those who own or operate the wells, transport the oil and gas and brine, or in any way facilitate those wells into law breakers and criminals. According to ODNR website information, many of these wells are owned by local Youngstown churches, schools, and non-profit charities.
3. It is unlikely regardless of the charter amendment that there would be much ‘unconventional” large scale horizontal shale oil and gas drilling activity within the City of Youngstown. The multiple-well drilling pads and related activities involved are located away from urban areas or residential concentrations. Most shale gas development, particularly surface activities, would be impossible in Youngstown due to regulations already in place in Ohio. The amendment would likely make very little difference as to actual drilling activity within the city. But, it would make a huge difference in terms of
economic opportunities to the city, and the image that would be portrayed to the nation and the world with Youngstown, a major city in northeast Ohio, refusing to allow, and even criminalizing shale gas development. 

Anderson: [WE THE CITIZENS DECIDE WHAT IS SAFE.
The oil industry has paved the way for a very dangerous process by paying for mineral rights. Go look right behind Bob Evan’s restaurant behind the wood fences on Southern Boulevard in Boardman. How wise will it be to FRACK NEXT TO THE SOUTHERN PARK MALL!? I do not have time to go on and on about the incorrect statements, falsehoods and scare tactics being used by lawyers and officials paid by the oil and gas industry.

My mother always said: “Consider the Source!”, (meaning, look at who is saying what and figure out why they are saying it.)

Attorney Wenger makes a lot of money on mineral rights leases. I am an individual concerned citizen.

I am so very proud of all my brave fellow citizens who are standing up for their inalienable rights against the BIG MONEY OF BIG OIL & GAS CORPORATIONS!

Vote YES for the Community Bill of Rights May 7, 2013 and protect your family’s drinking water, the air we breathe and the land we live on!]

Lynn Anderson  Youngstown, Ohio 44509

READ MORE about the Amendment to the Youngstown City Charter: http://www.youngstownrights.org/

VOTE YES to protect safe drinking water on May 7 2013 ballot Youngstown Ohio

Call for canvas people - N.E. Ohio! Canvassers Needed!
Please read this letter from Broadview Heights, Ohio, citizens:

Dear Friends, Just as we fought the fight here in Broadview Heights, along with Mansfield, Youngstown is now trying to get their Bill of Rights Charter Amendment to ban drilling and injection wells within their city. The election is coming up in just a few short weeks on May 7!

The people of Youngstown have suffered earthquakes and toxic fracking waste dumped directly into their storm sewers and THEY HAVE HAD ENOUGH. They want to be able to take control of their own future and have decision making power back in the local citizens hands where it rightfully belongs. They are being attacked with industry and chamber of commerce  propaganda. We may not have as much money as the opposition, but we have something much better.....people power. All of us are affected by this industry that has pre-empted our right to self government and continues to use Ohio as a resource colony for their profits.

As community after community in Ohio passes local ordinances and charter amendments to take back our RIGHTS, we WILL make a difference and a change! Youngstown needs help canvassing neighborhoods to provide accurate information about the Charter Amendment to residents before they vote. And as election day gets closer, they will also need help making telephone calls to registered voters.

If you have any time at all to assist Youngstown get their Charter Amendment passed, you will not only be helping the residents of Youngstown, but you will be helping to move us all closer to stopping the destruction of our beautiful state and to re-building "Democracy" in Ohio.

(signed)
MADION (Mothers Against Drilling In Our Neighborhoods)

To help Youngstown win on May 7, please contact:

(234) 201-8007
YoungstownRights@gmail.com
http://www.youngstownrights.org/contact

Or PM (send Personal  Message) to our FB PAGE at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Community-Bill-of-Rights-of-Youngstown-Ohio-Vote-YES-May-7/398926810215363

VOTE YES to protect your family's safe drinking water

On Tuesday, May 7^th, 2013, VOTE YES  to amend the Youngstown Home Rule Charter so that the citizens can protect their drinking water, their air and their land. The citizens of Youngstown can vote YES on the Community Bill of Rights to prohibit toxic trespass in the drinking water protected area of the Meander Reservoir, in residential areas bordering Mill Creek MetroParks and in the populated City of Youngstown.

What is the Youngstown, Ohio Community Bill of Rights?

Youngstown is a “home rule” City.  This means it creates its own laws on any topic not exclusively regulated by the state or federal government.  The set of local laws that govern the City are collectively referred to as the City’s Charter.  The Charter may be amended either by action of the elected government officials or through a citizen petition.  This ballot question is presented as the result of a citizen petition. The amendment proposes an addition to the Home Rule Charter establishing a local “Bill of Rights” which asserts the right of residents of the City to local self-government, to pure water, clean air, peaceful enjoyment of home, freedom from toxic trespass, local self-governing rights and the right of residents to establish energy policies for future sustainability. It establishes rights for natural communities and ecosystems, and empowers community members with legal standing to enforce those rights.
To secure the local Bill of Rights, corporations would be prohibited from using hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas within the City. In addition, corporations would be prohibited from storing, transporting or disposing of waste products from gas extraction within the City, or to site infrastructure supporting the extraction of shale gas or oil within the City. Corporations engaged in the extraction of natural gas, or intending to do so in the City, could not avail themselves of certain legal rights and powers which would enable them to nullify the rights of communities secured by the City Charter. Corporations engaged in gas extraction in neighboring municipalities could be held liable for violations of rights secured by this amendment.

READ MORE.....

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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