I’m in such shock by the Oct. 25 story “Energy company explores responsible fracking, sites” that I’m almost at a loss for words.
Let me elaborate on why: In the title, we’re given the impression that this energy company, Cunningham Energy, is exploring new methods of responsible fracking. What we get once reading the article is a measly “we are watched closely by West Virginia Environmental Protection and we intend to drill responsibly” from a Cunningham land manager, Joe Blackhurst.
First of all, how exactly does the West Virginia EPA have any control over what happens in Athens? They don’t, that would be the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Ohio EPA’s responsibility. And second, are we supposed to take this man’s word to drill “responsibly” to heart?
I don’t think so. So how exactly are they planning to drill responsibly when the oil and gas industry is exempt from so many environmental protection laws, most notably the Safe Drinking Water Act?
Next, what is with the 85 percent graphic on the front page? Was any actual research conducted on the amount of wastewater that is recovered when creating this graphic, or was Blackhurst’s opinion understood as fact?
On that note, it should probably be mentioned what actually happens to wastewater, because according to Blackhurst, it’s “deposited back into nature.”
The wastewater that is recovered is hauled from the frack site to a separate injection well where it is forced deep into the earth and then capped off. Sounds safe, right?
I guess I should point out that this flowback wastewater is so dangerous, Pennsylvania actually banned its shipment to wastewater treatment plants and thus Ohio is now accepting Pennsylvania’s wastewater for deep injection wells.
And lastly, I cannot believe such a ridiculously one-sided and seriously misleading statistic was used in regard to job creation. The statistic came from an economic impact study conducted by the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program, which is “funded exclusively by Ohio’s crude oil and natural gas producers” (oogeep.org). With estimates funded by the industry, how can this possibly pass as a credible source?
I’m really disappointed that such irresponsible reporting was published on the front page of The Post.
Why are the only quotes from this story coming from a Cunningham land man and a pro-drilling legislative aide?
The stakes are way too high for such sloppy journalism.
Rachel Hyden?is a senior studying public relations and a Clean Water Fellow in the Ohio Sierra Club.
