OFBF will be holding meetings across Ohio over thenext few days, to provide information about emerging oil and gas issues in Ohio, how the issues will impact them and their communities and how they can potentially benefit from it.
Meeting Dates and Locations
DATE:
Sep. 26, 2011 | 07:00 pm - 09:00 pm
LOCATION:
Maplewood Career Center
7075 SR 88
Ravenna, OH
DATEL
Sep. 27, 2011 | 07:00 pm - 09:00 pm
LOCATION:
West Holmes High School Theater
10909 SR 39
Millersburg, OH
DATE:
Sep. 28, 2011 | 07:00 pm - 09:00 pm
LOCATION:
Ohio Department of Agriculture
8995 East Main Street
Reynoldsburg, OH
For more information about these meetings, contact the Ohio Farm Bureau or visit their website.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Public Hearings About the USEPA's Proposed Regulations to Reduce Air Pollution From Fracking
This week, September 27, 28, & 29, 2011, the United States Environmental Protection Agency is holding public hearings about their proposed air rules for reducing air pollution from fracking.
The hearings will be held in Pittsburgh, PA on the 27th, Denver, CO on the 28th, and in Arlington, Texas on the 29th.
Addresses for the hearings, and phone numbers are included in this document .
According to the EPA's document, this is a chance to be heard and have your input considered if you are able to attand one of these meetings.
This is a direct quote from the document,
"The three public hearings will convene at 9:00 a.m. and wille until 8:00 p.m. (local time). The EPA will make everyl speakers that arrive and register before8:00p.m."
The hearings will be held in Pittsburgh, PA on the 27th, Denver, CO on the 28th, and in Arlington, Texas on the 29th.
Addresses for the hearings, and phone numbers are included in this document .
According to the EPA's document, this is a chance to be heard and have your input considered if you are able to attand one of these meetings.
This is a direct quote from the document,
"The three public hearings will convene at 9:00 a.m. and wille until 8:00 p.m. (local time). The EPA will make everyl speakers that arrive and register before8:00p.m."
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Friday, September 23, 2011
New Links to Fracking Information Sites in Side-Bar
I just want to point out a couple of new links in the sidebar (I'll put them here in this post, too).
The first one goes to a site called Earth Justice. It has a video clip about a couple who noticed signs of fracking surveyors in a park, fought it, and won - along with a handy list of tips for citizens in similar situations.
The second link is to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice's No Fracking Page.
I apologize for the brevity of this post, I just wanted to get this updated since I found these two informative sites this evening.
The first one goes to a site called Earth Justice. It has a video clip about a couple who noticed signs of fracking surveyors in a park, fought it, and won - along with a handy list of tips for citizens in similar situations.
The second link is to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice's No Fracking Page.
I apologize for the brevity of this post, I just wanted to get this updated since I found these two informative sites this evening.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The Fracking Song: The Water's On Fire Tonight
A little musical break - "The Water's On Fire Tonight" was written using the details of Propublica's investigation on hydraulic fracturing gas drilling.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Things for Landowners to Consider When Signing Over Mineral Rights to Gas Companies
The gentleman in this video talks about things landowners need to consider, in detail, before signing land rights over to gas companies. He does not profess to offer legal or financial advice, and he does not declare a positive or negative stance in regards to fracking, he simply points out things most people would not think about and asks viewers to weigh the options before signing anything - like - if you sign over all mineral rights you cannot always later refinance or sell your property because a lien can be put against your property's mineral rights. That's not all, if you have about 20 minutes and 23 seconds to spare, this information is well worth learning, and could even be vital to your financial future.
Landowner Considerations in Unconventional Gas Drilling from Paul Feezel on Vimeo.
If you cannot open this embedded video, this is the link to the Vimeo page.
Landowner Considerations in Unconventional Gas Drilling from Paul Feezel on Vimeo.
If you cannot open this embedded video, this is the link to the Vimeo page.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Could Ohio Colleges Be Slated as Fracking Sites?
With public lands in the park system on the table as potential hydraulic fracturing drilling sites, it starts to seem as if nothing is off the table.
Imagine sending your college-age children off to learn in an environment where potential carcinogenic and radioactive toxins float around in the air from a fracking rig (or several) operating on the campus - not to mention the noise and grime.
How many of us would really choose that environment for our children? Think they'll learn much?
Some western states (yeah, Texas is one of them) already have drilling sites set up on college campuses.
In response to extreme budget cuts, some Pennsylvania colleges are getting ready to roll out the rigs and jump on the frac truck, too. (The article the link goes to also mentions the use of prison lands being used as drilling sites.)
So my question, could Ohio college campuses be in the line of fire also?
Even though it hasn't made the local news yet, it seems logical that, just like western students and (soon-to-be Pennsylvania) students; students attending one of colleges located above the Marcellus or Utica shale reserves could end up seeing rigs go up on the campuses they attend.
Imagine sending your college-age children off to learn in an environment where potential carcinogenic and radioactive toxins float around in the air from a fracking rig (or several) operating on the campus - not to mention the noise and grime.
How many of us would really choose that environment for our children? Think they'll learn much?
Some western states (yeah, Texas is one of them) already have drilling sites set up on college campuses.
In response to extreme budget cuts, some Pennsylvania colleges are getting ready to roll out the rigs and jump on the frac truck, too. (The article the link goes to also mentions the use of prison lands being used as drilling sites.)
So my question, could Ohio college campuses be in the line of fire also?
Even though it hasn't made the local news yet, it seems logical that, just like western students and (soon-to-be Pennsylvania) students; students attending one of colleges located above the Marcellus or Utica shale reserves could end up seeing rigs go up on the campuses they attend.
Monday, September 12, 2011
ODOT Document About De-Icing Roads and Brine Use
I'm popping back in today in the interest of fairness to share a link to Ohio Department of Transportation's (ODOT's) document about de-icing the roads. When I found it, I was researching, attempting to find out just how much the state of Ohio spends annually on brine to dump on the roads after reviewing the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) documents about dumping oilfield completion brine and natural gas fracking brine on roadways. (Sorry about that long sentence.)
The ODOT document in question, while it does not specifically state what makes up the brine, states that all brine is made "in-house". So, depending on the breadth of the state's definition of "in-house" it leaves a lot open.
I found it interesting that two other government agencies state that it is drilling/fracking brine while the Ohio Department of Transportation offers that it is something they make. One question this raises: Does that mean the state starts with fracking brine and adds more chemicals before adding it to the road?
So, this post doesn't give any answers, it just raises more questions... and shares a link to an interesting document.
The ODOT document in question, while it does not specifically state what makes up the brine, states that all brine is made "in-house". So, depending on the breadth of the state's definition of "in-house" it leaves a lot open.
I found it interesting that two other government agencies state that it is drilling/fracking brine while the Ohio Department of Transportation offers that it is something they make. One question this raises: Does that mean the state starts with fracking brine and adds more chemicals before adding it to the road?
So, this post doesn't give any answers, it just raises more questions... and shares a link to an interesting document.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Update on Fracking Brine Dumping on Ohio Roadways
Updated January 21, 2011
Since strict environmental laws say dumping hazardous waste anywhere it can get into our water systems and soil is forbidden, why are some states dumping it on the roadways to keep down ice and dust - depending upon the season in question? This recently updated Ohio Environmental Protection Agency document, Drilling for Natural Gas in the Marcellus and Utica Shales: Environmental Regulatory Basics, outlines in very specific language that this is being done in Ohio.
The original document (circa 1983/Ohio Department of Natural Resources) outlining procedures for roadway/oilfield completion fluid dumping, implied that only oilfield completion fluids would be dumped, and then listed a few, somewhat unrealistic measures that are in place to keep the brine out of waterways, yards, and fields. (I mean, if it runs off the road and into the ditch, it is going to flow right along with the rest of the runoff water when the snow melts or when it rains. It's water, it isn't going to separate the toxins out of itself just because someone wants us to believe it will.) According to the newly released (July 2011 OEPA document, it is no longer oilfield completion fluid - ever.
Add dumping brine into old injection wells, and it's really a wonder it's still safe to drink the water. Or is it still safe? That's not for me to decide, I'm just here to share the information I find. I'm not against fracking, I don't hate energy companies, I just think it is the height of irresponsible behavior for businesses, and for state officials charged with the responsibility to protect the interests of citizens, to proceed with something so hazardous without a realistic plan in place for protecting the environment.
Add dumping brine into old injection wells, and it's really a wonder it's still safe to drink the water. Or is it still safe? That's not for me to decide, I'm just here to share the information I find. I'm not against fracking, I don't hate energy companies, I just think it is the height of irresponsible behavior for businesses, and for state officials charged with the responsibility to protect the interests of citizens, to proceed with something so hazardous without a realistic plan in place for protecting the environment.
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