DEAR EDITOR:
We continue to hear of more property being leased to gas and oil companies in Ohio. Drilling is moving forward and these companies as well as the landowners are seeing dollar signs before them. Good paying jobs and the resulting money that will circulate throughout countless communities has everyone licking their chops.
It is exciting to think of all the benefits that may come our way. Both the jobs and the energy that can be generated will certainly give us a brighter future. But there are issues that have not been addressed as yet.
The major concern we need to consider is what is going to be done with the water and chemical solution used in the fracking process. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources have confused us with conflicting statements about any dangers we may experience.
Gov. Kasich has temporarily banned the use of injection wells to dispose of the liquid solution. The two state agencies just mentioned have stopped the Patriot Company from trucking in the water solution, cleaning it, and then giving it to the Warren Water Pollution Control Department to be further cleaned and pumped into the Mahoning River.
Is there anyone who can tell us what is now supposed to be done with this tainted water? As more wells are drilled, there will be more water to be disposed of. Are we going to see the water shipped to other states? Will the governor allow injection wells to be used again? Will companies like Patriot convince the Ohio EPA and the ODNR to allow it to clean and dispose of the water in other ways?
We have many questions that need answered. And they need answered before all these new wells are drilled. Let's not let the dollar signs cloud the picture to the point of endangering all of us.
-- Larry Dueber, Warren