Oil & Gas Drilling aka Fracking

Fracking has plagued Ohio for the past several years. The oil and gas industry is one of, if not the most powerful industry in the world. They have carefully crafted state laws to work in their favor while putting Ohioans at great risk! Below are the current posts that we have that relate to the topic of fracking. For specific topics around fracking, use the buttons below.

Fracking & Health
Fracking & Waste
Fracking & Water

Conservancy District Warned of Watershed Impacts

(Grand Rapids, OH) On June 4, 2016, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) held its annual Conservancy Court hearings in New Philadelphia, Ohio with Judge O’Farrell presiding. As has been done for previous hearings, the FreshWater Accountability Project (FWAP) gave the court testimony regarding the negative impacts to the region’s water due to the MWCD’s engagement in and support of horizontal hydrofracking (fracking) in the region. This industry, also called “unconventional shale drilling” is not at all like the conventional methods used to extract oil and gas in the past. Due to the depth of the drilling and the massive amount of water that is needed to “frack” a well, the industry has created environmental problems in the region, including the massive amount of toxic, radioactive waste that is created, spills and deliberate dumping of this waste, earthquakes due to the disposal of the waste in injection wells, a dangerous increase in heavy truck traffic, and the loss of millions of gallons of freshwater to the region due to the one- time consumptive use by fracking. Science has now concluded that thee air and water contamination from the industry has caused human health effects as a result of the hazardous and radioactive pollutants released by the industry.

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Fracking Conference at Statehouse Highlights Lack of Public Protections in Ohio

As the unconventional shale gas drilling (fracking) industry continues to expand in Ohio with what critics call inadequate regulation, directly impacted communities are seeking answers and assistance from legislators and regulators to protect their communities. To further those efforts, the FreshWater Accountability Project (FWAP) sponsored a conference on Tuesday, May 17, at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium to urge Ohio legislators and regulators to learn the from several expert presenters the environmental and public health impacts of its rapid deployment, infrastructure buildout and waste stream disposal

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FWAP Attorney Opposes OEPA’s Plan to Issue General Permits

I offer the following comments on behalf of the FreshWater Accountability Project (FWAP). We comment upon the proposed “general permit” regulations for compressor equipment and facilities related to the natural gas pipeline industry. FWAP asks that you do not finalize these proposed permits, as they will have a tremendously negative effect on public health and the environment. On a micro scale, compressor stations are terrible for communities and cause a plethora of health problems. On a macro scale and in light of the recent Paris Climate Treaty, streamlining these stations will help to further the proliferation of greenhouse gases and add to global warming.

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Fracking and Ohio’s Future Conference

An important one-day conference for legislators, regulators, and the public to learn about environmental and health impacts from unconventional shale drilling and what can be done to protect communities and Ohio’s economic and environmental future.

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Frack Waste Facilities Proliferate in Ohio Despite Lack of Regulations

As the horizontal hydrofracking industry continues to operate without adequate regulation, the waste produced is a big problem for the industry for which Ohio has provided a cheap solution. Ohio not only allows waste from in-state fracking operations to be disposed of without traceability, monitoring and adequate regulation, it also is accepting waste from other states. Recently, plans were approved to allow the barge shipment of frack waste on the Ohio River, meaning frack waste could potentially come to Ohio from Texas and other states who find it easier and cheaper to send it to Ohio than dispose of it themselves.

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Ohio EPA Air Permitting Scheme Challenged

(Grand Rapids, OH) The FreshWater Accountability Project (FWAP) and Food & Water Watch have issued notice that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency should convene hearings and accept citizen comments to gather testimony from communities and individuals...

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SEC Asked To Investigate Greenhunter Resources

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  (Grand Rapids, OH) FreshWater Accountability Project (FWAP) has filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an investigation of GreenHunter Resources, Inc.’s statements to potential investors and current shareholders...

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