Monday, October 17, 2011
Guinevere's Blog #15
I chose my topic to be about the controversial issue of hydraulic fracturing in Ohio. The first blog is "Thanks Athens for telling Forest Service no fracking way" by Don E. Wirtshafter; J.D., a local attorney and environmental activist. In his post, he exposes the sneaky attempt of the Wayne National Forest officials to avoid making any type of public announcement about the recent bid they opened up to the gas-oil industry for the right to drill 3000 acres of the Wayne forest. He explains this land is directly above the Athens drinking watershed, and he also explains the dangers of extreme pollution to the land and water brought on by fracking. This article appeals to me as it tells of the particular land that I live very near to, and he offers info. of an upcoming protest, as well as the link for a way to send in written protest to our politicians.
(http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-35009-thanks-athens-for-telling-forest-service-no-fracking-way)
The next blog I chose is "Fracking in Ohio" by Jonnatha Mayberry. This article is about the senate's approval of Bill 133, allowing for oil and gas drilling to occur in the state's forests, parks and other state lands. I liked how the author explains both sides of the argument regarding this issue, saying those for drilling claim that it will get Ohio out of its 8 billion dollar deficit, creating jobs, and that the parks will get 30% of the drilling profit. Mayberry also goes into why fracking is such an environmental concern, contaminating ground water to the point where people can light their tap water into plumes of fire. He offers his opinion that if this drilling is going to happen, the oil companies should be responsible for any spills, and all clean-up.
(http://marksolock.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/fracking-in-ohio)
"Toxic fracking chemicals intentionally spewed onto private property in Ohio" by Amy Mall is a Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog. Ms.Mall interviews a Monroe County, Ohio landowner who is not opposed to oil and gas extraction. However, he is against the irresponsible actions taken by the oil company that took place on his land. He claims, with photo proof, that the chemical laden fracturing fluid was spewed all over his land, and eventually ran into the creeks with go to the Ohio and Mississippi River, estimated at 350,000 to 500,000 gallons. He learned that the chemicals involved were extremely dangerous and cancer-causing. Mr.Boyd feel that his land is a total loss, no longer usable for any reason. This article was persuasive in telling of a particular example from an outraged landowner who even describes himself as "not a green tree hugger" (Boyd).
(http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/amall/fracking_fluid_blown_out_onto_private_property_in_ohio)
The last blog I use is "Pennsylvania fracking water being disposed in Ohio" by Timothy Puko. This article differs from the other blogs I read in that it discusses another aspect of the new nation-wide drilling process that is affecting Ohio. It begins with "Pennsylvania's waste is becoming Ohio's million-dollar treasure" (Puko http://blog.ptmsa.com). Mr.Puko explains that the extensive drilling happening in Pensylvania's portion of the Marcellus Shale. The state has been relying completely on Ohio to take the toxic waste fluid from drilling, amounting to 14.8 million gallons just in the last half yr. of 2010. Ohio charges top dollar for "storing" this waste, thus making a huge profit while ruining the land. The author of this blog did not portray bias, but simply provided the factual information regarding this ugly business.
(http://blog.ptmsa.com/2011/07/05/pennsylvania-fracking-water-being-disposed-in-ohio)
(http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-35009-thanks-athens-for-telling-forest-service-no-fracking-way)
The next blog I chose is "Fracking in Ohio" by Jonnatha Mayberry. This article is about the senate's approval of Bill 133, allowing for oil and gas drilling to occur in the state's forests, parks and other state lands. I liked how the author explains both sides of the argument regarding this issue, saying those for drilling claim that it will get Ohio out of its 8 billion dollar deficit, creating jobs, and that the parks will get 30% of the drilling profit. Mayberry also goes into why fracking is such an environmental concern, contaminating ground water to the point where people can light their tap water into plumes of fire. He offers his opinion that if this drilling is going to happen, the oil companies should be responsible for any spills, and all clean-up.
(http://marksolock.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/fracking-in-ohio)
"Toxic fracking chemicals intentionally spewed onto private property in Ohio" by Amy Mall is a Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog. Ms.Mall interviews a Monroe County, Ohio landowner who is not opposed to oil and gas extraction. However, he is against the irresponsible actions taken by the oil company that took place on his land. He claims, with photo proof, that the chemical laden fracturing fluid was spewed all over his land, and eventually ran into the creeks with go to the Ohio and Mississippi River, estimated at 350,000 to 500,000 gallons. He learned that the chemicals involved were extremely dangerous and cancer-causing. Mr.Boyd feel that his land is a total loss, no longer usable for any reason. This article was persuasive in telling of a particular example from an outraged landowner who even describes himself as "not a green tree hugger" (Boyd).
(http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/amall/fracking_fluid_blown_out_onto_private_property_in_ohio)
The last blog I use is "Pennsylvania fracking water being disposed in Ohio" by Timothy Puko. This article differs from the other blogs I read in that it discusses another aspect of the new nation-wide drilling process that is affecting Ohio. It begins with "Pennsylvania's waste is becoming Ohio's million-dollar treasure" (Puko http://blog.ptmsa.com). Mr.Puko explains that the extensive drilling happening in Pensylvania's portion of the Marcellus Shale. The state has been relying completely on Ohio to take the toxic waste fluid from drilling, amounting to 14.8 million gallons just in the last half yr. of 2010. Ohio charges top dollar for "storing" this waste, thus making a huge profit while ruining the land. The author of this blog did not portray bias, but simply provided the factual information regarding this ugly business.
(http://blog.ptmsa.com/2011/07/05/pennsylvania-fracking-water-being-disposed-in-ohio)
The blog that I read regarding the Forest service and the concept of fracking was very interesting! I think that the approach that the author was trying to use on this blog was to empower the reader to take action and to do something about the harsh conditions that the government is doing to many homeowners land. All in the name of money. According to the blog the government is just freely going into people land and drilling harmful things in the water system and harming the tap water that many people are drinking. The landlord just let it known to many people that if they are landowners they need to get attorneys that are very familiar with the concept fracking and the many special conditions and details that need to be known. Within this article there is potential bias because the author is a landlord so he is experiencing g these things first hand so this blog is based off of personal experience and personal emotions. The author believes that the government is attacking our sole source of water especially in Ohio and that something needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteOne Question for further research: Is the concept of “fracking” only happening in the state of OHIO? Also, where is the money that the government is receiving for doing this procedure going to, and is it worth harming our water system over?