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Fracking Fight Heats up in Athens

ATHENS, Ohio — State officials escorted about 100 people out of an information session on a proposed “fracking” waste well last night after the crowd tried to take over the Ohio Department of Natural Resources open house and turn it into a public hearing.

The group was ordered to leave the department’s Division of Wildlife regional headquarters in Athens after former Athens County Commissioner Roxanne Groff announced that she would be moderating a hearing on the well and taking public statements. At that point, an ODNR official informed Groff, who is a member of an anti-fracking group, that the event was not a public hearing but an open house, in which the public could ask questions of individual experts on hand, but not make public statements.

The crowd burst into applause when Groff asked, “Would the public in attendance like me to go on?” but ODNR officials ordered the protesters to leave. As they did, they chanted, “You have trampled on our rights! You have denied us due process.”

Read the full article by the Columbus Dispatch

To: News Media

From: Appalachia Resist!

Re: Follow Up To Today’s Occupation of Ginsburg Injection Well

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, November 19, 2012

Today, a group of Athens County residents wearing hazmat style suits and respirators, and carrying large placards emblazoned with skulls, blockaded the front gate of the Class II injection well on Ladd Ridge Road in Athens County, Ohio. Protesters blocked the entrance to the well’s delivery pad. No trucks arrived to dump frack-waste while the protesters made their stand, successfully interrupting the day’s business. When the police arrived and asked protesters to disperse, they did so. There were no arrests.

Protesters demanded that the Ginsburg Well be shut down, citing numerous violations and shut down orders that the ODNR has issued and then refused to enforce. The injection well is known to accept millions of gallons of radioactive fracking waste from out of state. The protesters noted that this week, the ODNR has issued 4 new well permits, 3 of them in SE Ohio, despite the fact that they are not regulating the wells currently in operation.

Read the entire press release here.

Cincinnati Marches to Ban Fracking

Cincinnati citizens from the Southwest Ohio No Frack Forum marched in the Northside 4^th of July Parade, calling for Cincinnati City Council to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Cincinnatians by banning fracking related activities in the Queen City.

“Frack-ers stay out of town, Cincy ain’t your dumping ground,” was one of the chants to the crowd of some 15,000 Cincinnatians led by Danny Berchenko of 350.org. We had consistent applause throughout the parade route and a few people even got out of their chairs to march with us. It was abundantly clear to everyone that Cincinnati doesn’t want this industry in our city.

Read the full story here.

MWCD Suspends water sales pending further research!

Keep sending those letters we are making a difference

The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, MWCD, is a state agency that has control over this watershed, which covers 20% of Ohio and 18 counties. They have authorized the sale of about 11 million gallon of water to Gulfport Energy to finish a horizontal well a few weeks ago. They plan on selling many millions of gallons in the near future.

It is crucial that we write letters to the 18 Conservancy Court Judges asking them to stop this sale of water. You can write your own letter or just print this letter out, sign and send to all 18 judges - it will only take 5 minutes. Find out how here.

Petition for health care professionals to ask for better health and safety regulations can be found here: http://www.change.org/petitions/health-care-professionals-stop-physicians-gag-order-protect-the-public-health

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