The brand new state legislation requiring Ohio state parks to permit fracking on public lands is a recipe for ecological and financial catastrophe in Ohio. If there is only one methane leak poisoning groundwater with toxins and waste merchandise from fracking fluid, there shall be a mass exodus of gifted individuals and good jobs fleeing Ohio. And people individuals and jobs could not return.
Now we have solely to look so far as Flint, Michigan to see the lasting impact a “Frackgate” may have, not solely on Ohioans’ well being and welfare, however within the public’s belief in authorities. Is Ohio ready to change into the subsequent poster youngster for ecological catastrophe?
Home Invoice 507 is unhealthy legislation handed in a lame-duck session with out public remark. With this legislation, our legislators pandered to Ohio’s oil and fuel trade and have risked our clear air, clear consuming water and the expansion of sustainable jobs of the long run in trade for soiled power and darkish cash.
The federal authorities doesn’t regulate or require public disclosure of the components in fracking fluid injected into the bottom to convey up pure fuel. That’s the state’s duty. Which means the Ohio Division of Pure Sources permits solvents, waste merchandise and voltaic natural compounds (VOCs) to be injected into Ohio fracking wells, and presumably, finally permeate our groundwater.
Why?
Why are the components of the oil and fuel trade’s “secret sauce” for its fracking fluid protected once we know clear air and groundwater are important to life?
![A fracking explosion in Belmont County in February 2018 created one of the worst methane leaks in U.S. history. For 20 days after workers lost control of the horizontal gas well, a raging fire released harmful methane emissions into the air around the eastern Ohio community. [Provided Ohio State Highway Patrol Aviation Section]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/2019/12/23/NCOD/ghows-OH-48939b6b-1240-4557-9c78-bfcf930108f9-76e1367d.png?width=660&height=372&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The fracking trade’s fame for self-regulation in Ohio and nationwide is notably poor. In 2018, a fracking nicely at Powhatan Level on the Ohio River exploded and spewed methane fuel into the air on the fee of 120 million tons per hour for practically 20 days.
American and Dutch scientists, which noticed the leak by satellite tv for pc, agreed Powhatan was seemingly the biggest methane leak in U.S. historical past. The quantity of methane launched into the air was greater than the complete nations of France, Norway and the Netherlands mixed in a 12 months.
The place have been the Surroundings Safety Company and ODNR then, and the place are they at the moment on laws to guard the general public from firms like XTO Vitality − a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil − which operates the Powhatan nicely?
What reparation did XTO Vitality make to Ohio, the nation, or the world to mitigate private well being results and anticipated international warming quantities from that gargantuan leak?
The fracking increase in Ohio didn’t present the roles and elevated inhabitants initially promised to Ohioans. What it has executed is construct a goldmine for fossil gas trade shareholders who discovered keen associates on the state home. A few of these politicians settle for fossil gas marketing campaign and darkish cash donations − and reciprocate by passing legal guidelines like HB 507.
The fracking trade wants strict regulation to make sure the well being and security of the individuals who reside in and close to fracked areas and to forestall future methane leaks. Methane contributes considerably to rising international temperatures.
We reside in a pivotal second in historical past. Both we proceed to hurtle sooner towards environmental oblivion or start to do the exhausting work essential to implement sustainable power methods and options.
There are 29 million acres of land in Ohio. Simply 170,000 are put aside for state parks. These are stunning, pure refuges in a world more and more ugly and urbanized. The individuals of Ohio personal them, not the Republican Celebration. Frackers want to remain off our land.
There shall be a public assembly on fracking leases Feb. 1 on the ODNR workplace in Columbus. Let your native and state legislators understand how you are feeling about this subject.
Melinda Zemper lives in West Chester.
