State officials haven’t responded to complaints from concerned citizens, county officials have said, so the Athens County Commissioners are hosting a public meeting Tuesday to mull over the possibility of a new injection well in Athens County.
The event, open to the public, is expected to host representatives from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and K & H Partners, the company that submitted an application for a new injection well in Athens County. Both have been invited to the meeting, according to a press release from the commissioners.
Medical doctors, geologists and concerned citizens living near injection wells are expected to speak at the meeting, according to a press release from Athens County Fracking Action Network.
Heather Cantino, member of the network, said she hopes to draw the attention of the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
“The U.S. EPA must step in and revoke Ohio’s authority over injection wells,” Cantino said.
The Ohio Revised Code says the state is the only authority that can regulate drilling and mining.
The code states: “The (Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Oil and Gas Resource Management) has sole and exclusive authority to regulate the permitting, location and spacing of oil and gas wells and production operations within the state, excepting only those activities regulated under federal laws for which oversight has been delegated to the environmental protection agency,” among others.
In September, the commissioners and other citizens submitted complaints to ODNR about problems with the application for a new injection well, but the state did not respond, said members of Athens County Fracking Action Network.
Commissioner Lenny Eliason had previously said he hoped that the meeting would give state officials another chance to hear the public’s concerns and address them.
The meeting will be held Tuesday from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Athens Community Center, 701 E State St.
IF YOU GO
What: Public meeting
Where: Athens Community Center
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Admission: Free
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