Ohio doesn't want to be dumping ground for New York waste, groups say

Here are the letters to Cuomo and the signees:

February 12, 2013

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo

Governor of New York State

NY State Capitol Building

Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo:

We, the undersigned Ohioans, are writing to urge you to oppose shale gas/oil extraction via ‘fracking’ in all areas of New

York, including the Southern tier.

A decision to allow this dangerous industrialization would be irresponsible not only for

the reasons outlined in our first letter to you, but also due to the lack of infrastructure in New York for safe disposal of

fracking waste within your state.

As you are aware, this is our second letter to you urging you to oppose shale gas/oil extraction in New York. (see attached

letter which was hand delivered to your office by the People’s Oil & Gas Collaborative-Ohio)

Ohio is the most likely target for the disposal of the toxic, radioactive fracking waste that will be produced if New York

opens its land to fracking. Ohio relies on class II injection wells for disposal of these toxic fluids, which are only declared

non-hazardous by virtue of exemptions. If measured by their actual toxicity and hazardousness to human, animal, and

ecological health, they would be deemed hazardous.

In recent years our nation has experienced earthquakes with greater frequency and magnitude as a result of injection wells.

Last year our governor placed a short-lived moratorium on the permitting of new injection wells due to the severity of

earthquakes in Ohio directly linked to injection wells. New injection well permits are being accepted at an alarming rate

by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

If the state of New York chooses to allow fracking, Ohio communities will suffer even more injection wells. Ohio

communities should not be expected to bear the burden of disposing of the waste that will result from “fracking” in New

York.

Because our state does not enforce its regulations or shut down wells with well integrity problems, because ODNR does

not monitor around injection wells for water contamination, and because even Class 1 wells––built to receive hazardous

waste––have leaked, we are extremely concerned about the unknown water contamination that has likely already occurred

and about the possibility of increased numbers of injection wells in our communities. Wells eventually leak. Period.

ODNR has a long history of ignoring repeated flagrant violations, not even enforcing its weak rules, ignores citizens

concerns, and denying evidence of problems. Increased demand for deep-well injection of fracking waste in Ohio will lead

to increased use of wells, which are not constructed to handle hazardous waste; increased injection volumes, with

concomitant risks, into old wells not built even to the current inadequate state standards; increased likelihood of drinking

water contamination; and increased risk to our communities from truck accidents and spills.

The undersigned Ohioans oppose more injection wells. Just last year, the Ohio communities of Cincinnati, Athens,

Mansfield, and Broadview Heights all passed widely supported local legislation to control the threat of injection wells.

Many others are working on similar efforts right now. You can simultaneously protect New York and Ohio communities

by not allowing fracking to proceed in New York

Sincerely,

See attached for signatory’s

Austin Babrow

Bob Lyall

Athens, OH

Gambier, OH

Jan Ke nnedy

Ron Prosek

Mansfield, Oh

Mentor, OH

Vicki G arrett

Sandra Sleight-Brennan

Columbus, OH

Stewart, OH

Lori B abbey

Bob O'Neil

Newton Falls, OH

Athens, OH

Steve B abbey

Madeline ffitch

Newton Falls, OH

Athens, OH

Councilman Ja mes O'Reilly

Karen L. Guthrie

City of Wyoming, OH

Newton Falls, OH

Jessica S chaner

Betsy Cook

Claridon Twp, OH

Lowell, OH

Kathy Flora

Vickie Askins

Thompson , OH

Cygnet, OH

Dawn F alleur

Gail Lyall

Yellow Springs, OH

Gambier, OH

Paulette T hurman

Larry Askins

Kent, OH

Cygnet, OH

Carolyn Boyce

Eddie Bonfiglio

Medina, OH

Wadsworth, OH

Judith W illour

Joan Jurich

Mentor, OH

Athens, OH

Theresa Gottl

Stephen Espenschied

Brunswick, OH

North Canton, OH

Wendy Hayes

Dave Summers

Medina, OH

Medina, OH

Sandy Engle

David Walker

Beaver Township, OH

Wadsworth, OH

JoAnne Slorgie

Cynthia Morris

Medina, OH

Akron, OH

Bekki Shinin g Bearheart

John Welker

New Marshfield OH

Brunswick, OH

Marcia Wolff

Julia Fuhrman Davis

Akron, OH

North Lima, OH

Heather Vahila

June Oster

Carroll County, OH

Medina, OH

Cami L ewton

Richard Oster

Medina, OH

Medina, OH

Carol K lingel

Michael Partin

Medina, OH

Sycamore Valley, OH

Will K lingel

Ruth Partin

Medina, OH

Sycamore Valley, OH

Laura W eldon

Michelle Papai

Medina, OH

Athens, OH

Cynthia Morris

Ray Vershum

Akron, OH

Youngstown, OH

Beverly M urphey

Judy Vershun

Londondeery, OH

Youngstown, OH

Sharon Pearce

Valerie Dearing

Medina, OH

Poland OH

Kay W irth

Mary C. Khumprakob

Medina, OH

Youngstown, Ohio

Karen J oseph

Ray Beiersdorfer

Canfield, OH

Youngstown, OH

Diana S haheen

Marguerite Felice

Youngstown, OH

Youngstown, OH

Jean Engle

Roger Lafontaine

Youngstown, OH

Youngstown, OH

David Gorcheff

Tina Jurich

N. Lima, OH

Youngstown, OH

Patti Go rcheff

Daniel Matthews

N. Lima, Ohio

Youngstown, OH

Kelsey G orcheff

Friends of Strouds Run State Park

N. Lima, Ohio

Athens, OH

Sandra Bilek

Susie Beiersdorfer

Concerned Citizens of Medina County

Frackfree Mahoning Valley

Medina, OH

Youngstown, Ohio

Kathie Jones

George Elias

Concerned Citizens of Medina County

Frackfree Mahoning Valley/FANCy

Medina, OH

Youngstown, OH

Fran T eresi

Regina Hashbarger

Garrettsville Board of Public Affairs

Jefferson County Ohio Citizens for truth on

Garrettsville, OH

Horizontal Hydraulic Fracking

Tim R aridon

Josh Harris

Guardians of Mill Creek Park

Stewards of the Land

Youngstown, OH

Knox and Ashland County

Reverend Monica Beasley-Martin

Alison Auciello

Defenders of the Earth Outreach Mission

Organizer, Food & Water Watch

Trumbull County, OH

Cincinnati, OH

Diana L udwig

Lynn Anderson

Frackfree America National Coalition

Guardians of Mill Creek Park

Youngstown, OH

Youngstown, OH

Bernhard Debatin

Joshua Hashbarger

Slow Down Fracking in Athens County

Jefferson County Ohio Citizens for truth on

Athens, OH

Horizontal Hydraulic Fracking

Edward H ashbarger

Tyler Locke

Jefferson County Ohio Citizens for truth on

Jefferson County Ohio Citizens for truth on

Horizontal Hydraulic Fracking

Horizontal Hydraulic Fracking

Bill Baker

Frack Free Ohio

Cheryl J ohncox

Virgil Reynolds

Buckeye Forest Council

Save Our County, Inc.

Columbus, OH

East Liverpool, OH

Heather Cantino

Christine Hughes

Athens County Fracking Action Network

Athens County Fracking Action Network

Athens, OH

Athens, OH

Roxann e Groff

The Reverend Frank A Edmands

Athens County Fracking Action Network

Social Justice and Public Policy Committee

Athens, OH

Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio

Nancy Pierce

Kathryn Hanratty

Athens County Fracking Action Network

Enviroscapes Landscape Design

Athens, OH

Chardon, OH

Tish O 'Dell

Vickie Hennessy, president

Mothers Against Drilling in Our

Neighborhoods

Green Environmental Coalition

Broadview Heights, OH

Yellow Springs, OH

Alonzo S pencer

Teresa Mills

Save Our County, Inc.

Ohio field office, CHEJ

East Liverpool, OH

Columbus, OH

Chris B orello

Lea Harper

Stark County Concerned Citizens

Southeast Ohio Alliance to Save Our Water

Pres., CCLT/Uniontown IEL

Cambridge, OH

Superfund Site, Ohio

Uniontown, OH

Leslie Harper

Northwest Alliance to Ban Fracking

Fresh Water Accountability Project

Toledo, OH

Consortium of individuals and organizations

Grand Rapids, OH

Fr.. Neil Pezzulo Joann Gerson

Glenmary Home Missioners Southwest Ohio No Frack Forum

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati, OH

People’s Oil & Gas Collaborative--Ohio

www.ohiogasdrilling.com.

Here is the earlier letter to Cuomo:

August 17, 2012

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo

Governor of New York State

NY State Capitol Building

Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo:

We, the undersigned Ohioans, are writing to request that you oppose shale gas extraction via ‘fracking’ in all areas of New

York, to include the Southern tier. Such development would be irresponsible not only for the reasons outlined below, but

also due to the lacking infrastructure for proper disposal of fracking waste products within your state.

Because neighboring New Jersey will not accept out of state fracking waste, Ohio becomes a likely target for the disposal

of the fluid by-products of fracking. Ohio relies on class II injection wells for disposal of such fluids. In recent years

we’ve experienced increasing numbers and magnitudes of earthquakes as a result of this process. A moratorium was

issued by our state due to the severity of the issue. Thus, Ohio's current injection well space is at or over capacity. Should

we be expected to receive New York waste, our citizens will be forced to endure many more injection wells in their

communities.

The undersigned Ohioans oppose more injection wells. As recently as this month the city of Cincinnati voted unanimously

to ban waste injection wells and the NRDC and others submitted comments detailing the proposed regulations of Ohio

injection wells do not meet minimum standards. See:

http://ohiogasdrilling.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/nrdc_odnr_uic_comments_081512_final1.pdf

We also endorse the following:

1. Letter from eleven national environmental groups collectively

representing millions of members nationwide. See:

http://ecowatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/letter.pdf

2. Coalition letter with

more than 22,000 signatories which requests that Governor Cuomo withdraw the Revised Draft

SGEIS until 17 documented concerns have been fully resolved. See:

http://www.toxicstargeting.com/MarcellusShale/cuomo/coalition_letter/2011

3. Coalition letter with

more than 2,700 signatories that opposes any fracking "Demonstration Project" in the Southern

Tier and requests strict enforcement of Executive Order No. 41. See:

http://www.toxicstargeting.com/MarcellusShale/cuomo/coalition_letter/201...

Respectfully Submitted,

Kari Matsko, Director Teresa Mills

People’s Oil & Gas Collaborative- Ohio Center for Health, Environment and Justice

440-579-5315

karimatsko@hotmail.com Ohio field office

Cheryl Johncox, Executive Director Sandy Buchanan, Executive Director

Buckeye Forest Council Ohio Citizen Action

Heather Cantino, Steering Committee Member

Jack Shaner, Deputy Director

Athens County Fracking Action Network

Ohio Environmental Council

Athens OH

John Rumpler, Senior Attorney

Laurie Eliot-Shea/Nathan Johnson

Environment Ohio

No Frack Ohio Coalition

Kathryn Hanratty, Water Advocate

Greg Pace

Frack-Free Geauga

Guernsey County Citizens Support on Drilling

Chardon, OH

Issues

Columbus, OH

Fr.. Neil Pezzulo

Glenmary Home Missioners

Bill Baker

Cincinnati, Ohio

Frack Free Ohio

Mansfield, OH

Lea Harper

FreshWater Accountability Project

Monica Beasley-Martin

Grand Rapids, OH

Defenders of the Earth Outreach Mission

Liberty, OH

Tish O’Dell, Co-Founder

MADION, Mothers Against Drilling In Our

Susie Beiersdorfer

Neighborhoods

Frackfree Mahoning Valley

Broadview Heights, OH

Trumbull/Mahoning Counties, OH

Chris Borello, President

Kathie Jones

Concerned Citizens of Lake Twp./Uniontown IEL

Concerned Citizens of Medina County

Superfund Site

Medina, OH

Uniontown, OH

Lori Babbey

Diana Ludwig

Concerned Citizens of Portage County

Frackfree America National Coalition

Portage County, OH

Youngstown, OH

Gwen B. Fischer

Lynn Anderson/Tim Raridon

Concerned Citizens Ohio

Guardians of Mill Creek Park

Portage County, OH

Youngstown, OH

Terry Grange

Margaret Fenton

PO Box 365

Berryfield Farm

Marengo OH 43334

Centerburg, OH

Barbara R. Wolf

Mary Greer

1709 Pomona Court

Concerned Citizens Ohio/Shalersville

Cincinnati, OH 45206

Shalersville, OH

Robin Webb

Dr. Deborah Fleming

5160 Bunkerhill N. Rd

Professor of English and Chair of the Department

Butler, Ohio 44822

Ashland University

Joanne Gerson

Southwest Ohio No Frack Forum