Although land has been bought in Athens County intended for the purpose of fracture mining, residents and City Council members are preparing themselves for the dangers that come with fracking.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the process by which natural gas companies inject a mixture of sand, water and chemicals into the ground and create fractures in the bedrock. The channels are then used to extract natural gas.
The chemicals used in the fracking process are undisclosed, as per the “Halliburton Loophole” in the Clean Water Act and companies aren’t regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Those who attended the screening of “Split Estate” at the Athens Community Center last week had a chance to explore the dangers that come as a result of the mining style.
The documentary was shown by the Appalachian Group of the Sierra Club, a group aiming to protect the environment as well as support alternative sources of energy such as wind or solar power.
According to the film, independent testing has been performed and many toxic chemicals have been discovered in the fluid.
The screening was put on to promote awareness about the potential damages of fracture mining in the event that companies decide to start drilling in Athens, said Sierra Club representative Loraine McCosker.
“Big companies go from door to door and get residents to sign on to drilling in the area by offering monetary compensation. However, residents do not know what they are really signing up for,” McCosker said.
The film looked at a series of families who were affected by fracking in their area, some with health issues, and others with full-scale mining operations just outside their front door.
The closest the mining has gotten to Athens so far is just south of Mineral in Northern Athens County — approximately 12 miles from Athens.
It’s there that Oxford Mining has leased 157 acres from the Athens Fish and Game Club for $10 an acre.
“Fracking is a huge threat to the region and now in Athens, and I don’t support this. It isn’t regulated by environmental laws, and sadly land has been sold in Athens County,” McCosker said, adding that City Council is going to begin discussing the mining’s possible impact on Athens.
Various concerned citizens spoke at the open discussion following the film, discussing the importance of getting the word out to people about the potential dangers of fracture mining before residents begin to sign the leases.
“We don’t want to become full time fractivists, but we also do not want to deal with what will be irrevocable,” local entrepreneur Christine Hughes said at the screening.
Resident Cate Matigi shared similar feelings, adding this stage is a learning process.
“We’ve been alarmed, hearing more and more about fracking,” Matigi said. “Most of what we are doing right now is educational.”
@ThePostCity
