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Concerns about water supply, property value behind battles. Senate bill seeks rule changes
By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Nov 01, 2009
A bill pending in Columbus would change the rules for future oil and gas wells in Ohio.
The measure introduced by Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chester Township, would give local communities more control over drilling.
In Stow, city officials are gearing up for a hearing Nov. 10 before the Ohio Department of Natural Resources over a proposed gas well on the property of the Stow Community United Church of Christ on Pilgrim Drive.
The church wants to allow Beck Energy of Ravenna to drill a well. The church says the well would provide free gas and much-needed revenue. Nearby residents fear it would hurt their property values.
And in Munroe Falls, the city has taken its fight against a proposed well by D&L Energy Inc. of Youngstown on Sonoco Products property west of state Route 91 to Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
Grendell's bill, which NEOGAP, the Northeast Ohio Gas Accountability Project, helped pen would:
• Eliminate mandatory pooling. In mandatory pooling, property owners who do not sign oil and gas well leases with a producer are brought into the ''pool'' of those who have, if the chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Mineral Resources Management approves.
• Require wells be at least 1,000 feet from structures, as opposed to the current 100 feet.
• Require a well be set back 2,000 feet from any source of drinking water or any large body of water.
• Require notification of property owners living within 3,000 feet of a proposed well.
• Restore local control of zoning over oil and gas issues.
• Increase financial responsibility when problems develop.
Christie Wilt, a spokeswoman for the
natural resources department, said that ''since [the measure] was just introduced, we're currently reviewing the bill and look forward to continuing the discussion on these concepts with the legislature and interested parties.''
Grendell's bill is one of two pending in Columbus.
Sen. Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, who sponsored the 2004 oil and gas bill that some claim took away some local control over wells, is seeking to alter that measure.
Niehaus' new bill would allow a driller to apply for mandatory pooling only five times during a calendar year and would require the driller to pay a $5,000 fee per application.
Stow is subject to the church's mandatory pooling request because it owns a right of way along the street and has refused to sign an agreement with Beck Energy.
Munroe Falls in court
In Munroe Falls, D&L Energy Inc. had already been issued a permit to drill a gas well when the city got involved two years ago. The city appealed to Franklin County court and lost.
Another permit was issued by the natural resources department to D&L and the city now has filed a second suit in Franklin County aimed at blocking the drilling.
Munroe Falls Mayor Frank Larson said the city opposes the well because of fears it will affect the city's water supply.
The city contends the well would be 300 feet from the Cuyahoga River; a half-mile from the Cuyahoga Falls-owned well-water source for 60,000 people in Cuyahoga Falls, Munroe Falls and Silver Lake; and within a 100-year flood plain.
Munroe Falls has spent $30,000 to $40,000 in fighting the well.
''Our main concern is if this gets contaminated, where do we get our water? What happens?'' Larson asked. ''How do they correct that?''
D&L company officials declined to comment about the proposed well.
Robin Montgomery, a spokesman for the Hartsville, S.C.-based Sonoco Products, said the company has no position on the proposed well in Munroe Falls.
Grendell said his bill is not anti-oil or gas, but is designed to help protect property owners.
''This is the first major change in the oil and gas regulating law since the 1960s,'' Grendell said. ''This is our one chance to fix it and we ought to do it right and not cater to the oil and gas industry.''
His bill in essence says ''we should do this industrial practice in an area that will not negatively impact people's homes.''
Niehaus said he has talked to Grendell about the counterproposal.
Niehaus said based on his ''limited knowledge'' of Grendell's bill, ''it will have a detrimental effect on oil and gas drilling'' in the state, if passed.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
A bill pending in Columbus would change the rules for future oil and gas wells in Ohio.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Arnoldsburg, WV
Posted 11:46 AM, 11/01/2009
For the uninformed people of Stow and monroe Falls, here is an idea, since you don't want drilling on or around your area. Let's turn your natural gas off that heats your houses,stop providing you gas for your SUV'S, that way you can go cut wood to heat your houses in the winter with and you all can buy horses to ride to work. That way you people will not be using natural resources that are shipped in from other people's property.
Natural resources, actually increase the property value, not decrease it. As far as safety, I've worked in the oil and gas industry drilling wells. The wells are not dangerous, there have been very few ocassions where a drilled well has caused any danger. You already have natural gas lines in your area, which are far less safe than a well. To the ground water issue, there are requirements for the industry that make this a none issue, since the surface pipe of the well is cemented off from the fresh water supply.
somewhere near you, US
Posted 12:14 PM, 11/01/2009
What was it the hero of the republidunces used to say, "Drill baby drill"?
Just not in my backyard.
big bend, wv
Posted 12:41 PM, 11/01/2009
Right on Todd!
big bend, wv
Posted 12:44 PM, 11/01/2009
Those are all takers and do not give....They want everything ones sided....take take take
Woodsfield, OH
Posted 01:54 PM, 11/01/2009
@ Todd- Not a single person has said they don’t want drilling in the article. What they have said in Stow is that they don’t want it 100 feet from their house.
You said “there have been very few ocassions where a drilled well has caused any danger.” Maybe it was because the people were smart enough not to think it belonged next to their house.
In past articles it also said that the people were concerned about safety and that the drilling company has a HORRIBLE violation record. When Ohio has people who choose to drink and drive there are laws that take away their licenses. With gas wells, they just pay a fine to the state and keep drilling. That sure seems like a conflict of interest.
In the Stow driller’s case, he was dumping his waste chemicals into our stream in Monroe Co. and paid $17,000 to the state. This is just one way our water could be affected.
In Munroe Falls, you really think they should not be concerned about a water supply that supplies water to 50,000 people. Hmmm… ask the residents of Bainbridge.
For you, the person making money from this industry, is there a well 100 feet from your house? Of course not, there are better places.
Orrville, Oh
Posted 02:53 PM, 11/01/2009
Nonprofit, tax exempt, Church of Christ; demands; Beck Energy; drill for FREE gas; in Stow Ohio.
This is defiant; of demands; of Natural Law: what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world, God, democracy, capitalism, the US Constitution, and free, fair, and affordable commerce.
Demanding every corporation, farmer, business, outsourcer sweatshop, and nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization and Church; markets the cost; in the wholesale and retail price of his or her product and service; Of gas; and every workers, consumers, and taxpayers living (including pension and health care); enabling parents to love, nurse, nurture, discipline, protect, and provide for every child (job) they conceive; and fund schools, infrastructure, national security, government services, and etc.; with money derived from wages or independent business profit.
This defiance of realities demands; Makes free, fair, and affordable commerce IMPOSSIBLE; Makes funding schools, infrastructure, and etc. IMPOSSIBLE; Makes balancing every budget IMPOSSIBLE; Makes union workers, consumers, taxpayers, and America’s grandchildren’s children LIFE UNAFFORDABLE; and created the $40 trillion social security and the $9.3 trillion national debt. America’s grandchildren’s children are responsible to pay interest with this debt until they are 18 years old. Then pay the debt with the $7.30 per hour government mandated labor wage!
There is no reason to believe America’s grandchildren’s children that go to bed hungry can afford life; and pay this debt; with the $7.30 per hour; government mandated labor wage; in a hundred million years; with money derived from wages or independent business profit!
somewhere near you, US
Posted 04:50 PM, 11/01/2009
The world has resumed it's normal path, crazy is back in full force.
Arnoldsburg, WV
Posted 04:52 PM, 11/01/2009
@ Monroe, actually there are 2 wells on my property, no they are not 100 feet from my dwelling, because state law in this state requires they be atleast 300 feet.
I make very little money from working in the oilfield, besides oilfield workers are not the only ones that make money from the oil and gas industry. The entire World is a petroleum based society. Anyone that has a job makes money from petroleum. A couple of months ago they had a special on TV that gave a list of the things that are made of petroleum, fuel for cars,plastics,heating oil,steel produced with natural gas, etc,.
Arnoldsburg, WV
Posted 04:56 PM, 11/01/2009
People don't want to drill on their property and they don't want to drill of the coast or the national parks, so let's just keep importing it from other countries. This will work well, until there is a major war, then see how much oil you can buy on the world market.
Woodsfield, OH
Posted 05:10 PM, 11/01/2009
@ Todd- You need to visit the ODNR website to get your facts straight.
Wells can be 100 feet from an occupied structure. A homeowner can be forced, through mandatory pooling, to be a part of the 20 acre pool needed to drill a well. Then, the well can be 100 feet from the home of someone forced.
So, it is allowed that close to your home. Why did you choose to put it elsewhere? Is it because you want to get it from the world market? Or, was it simply more reasonable that you did not want it in that location.
It is completely ridiculous to say that not wanting it that close means that it should not be drilled anywhere. We are not so short of land at this time where it is a necessity.
It is only necessary to those looking for huge profit at other's expense.
Read the laws!
Woodsfield, OH
Posted 05:16 PM, 11/01/2009
@Todd, Maybe in the great state of WV they are smart enough to say 100 feet is too close!
Ohio is extremely rare having such a small setback. Most states have a minimum of 300 feet with distances in Texas being 500-1000 and decided by local municipalities.
I'm pretty sure Texas is not lacking wells, so your argument that they must be so close is really very lame!
Arnoldsburg, WV
Posted 06:51 PM, 11/01/2009
@ Monroe, the reason the wells are not 100 feet from my house is because WV state law says they must be atleast 300 feet.
Woodsfield, OH
Posted 06:30 AM, 11/03/2009
Why do you think they have that law? Why don't we?
