A local anti-fracking organization responded to Wayne National Forest administrator’s Monday decision by stating, “We will not be silenced.”
The Athens County Fracking Action Network released a statement today in response to Wayne National Forest Supervisor Anne Carey’s announcement that there will be no further revisions of the Forest Plan before land is leased to oil and gas companies for horizontal drilling.
“Ms. Carey’s decision ignores the overwhelming evidence painstakingly provided to her by the community over the past eleven months of the highly significant impacts of fracking when compared to impacts from vertical wells,” according to the organization's release.
Wayne National Forest decided that there was no need to review their previous Forest Plan, which states that horizontal hydraulic fracturing is economically feasible.
The Fracking Action Network cited the thousands of petition signatures, hundreds of rally attendees, and dozens of organized meetings as evidence of much concern and reason for Carey to reconsider.
“These concerns must be addressed by Ms. Carey before authorizing a decision that will have significant impacts on our community,” the response said.
The Fracking Action Network’s response points out what they say are the many overlooked areas of worry in Carey’s press release.
“Ms. Carey’s press release states that the report (currently not available online as her press release claims it is) addresses “surface impacts.” This ignores the Forest Service’s responsibility to protect community drinking water supplies,” according to the Fracking Action Network response.
The organization said that they would not be silenced by Wayne National Forest’s “illegal” and “irresponsible” decision.
