Contact: Morgan Caplan, (443) 986-1221 or Morgan.Caplan@sierraclub.org
Teresa Mills, (614) 539-1471 or Tmills@benohio.org
Columbus, OH - AWMS Water Solutions of Warren, a company that ran a fracking waste injection well, has requested the Ohio Oil and Gas Commission amend an order from the Department of Natural Resources’ Oil and Gas Resources Division (ODNR), and raise the threshold for earthquakes for an automatic shutdown, which would allow for more powerful earthquakes before it must shut down. If the Commission grants this request, the region affected, which has already been impacted by several earthquakes caused by an injection well, would continue to be dealt with the damaging effects as Ohio homes are not built to withstand earthquakes.
The commission is meeting to discuss the variance, but could take months to issue its ruling.
“We already have enough high hazard areas in Ohio. If an earthquake happens in this area, the effects on the already failing Meander Reservoir could be life threatening to a large number of people. The Meander Reservoir dam was built almost 100 years ago and it is crazy to think that a corporate polluter could come and inflict more damage,” said Teresa Mills, Executive Director of Buckeye Environmental Network, and founding member of the Ohio Brine Task Force. “With the ODNR and the surrounding community already against this proposal, why would the Commission even consider this proposal?”
“Communities are already being harmed by earthquakes caused by fracking,” Cheryl Johncox, Sierra Club organizer, and member of the Ohio Brine Task Force based in Ohio. “The Commission is supposed to be accountable to Ohioans, not the fossil fuel industry, and it is their job to protect the people. Giving the industry even more leeway to do damage is reckless and yet another reason why the ODNR’s Class II injection well program is ineffective, unprotective, and raises significant environmental justice issues for Ohio's communities. The Oil and Gas Commission must protect our water and our communities and deny this request.”
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About Buckeye Environmental Network
The Buckeye Environmental Network is committed to empowering grassroots organizations, individuals, and local communities to advocate for environmental justice. There is no Planet B. Now is the time to get serious about making long-term changes that prioritize a healthy environment and economy, visit https://benohio.org
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
The Brine Task Force is a group of thoughtful and committed Ohioans interested in stopping the hazardous practice of brine spreading in our communities. Together, we know that we can push back against the oil and gas industry and their profitable practice of selling their toxic waste to our communities as a method of de-icing the roads, visit www.ohbrinetaskforce.org