When word first got out that 2,623 acres could potentially be leased in Wayne National Forest for hydraulic fracturing, city, county and Ohio University officials lashed back — decrying the harm the chemicals involved in the process could do to Athens’ water supply.
One problem: Environmental experts say there is no evidence hydraulic fracturing has ever caused groundwater contamination.
“There is not one instance where fracturing has been proven to contaminate groundwater,” said Larry Wickstrom, chief of the Division of Geological Survey for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The true culprit, Wickstrom said, is occasional human error and faulty well constructions, not “fracking” itself, the method used to extract natural gas.
When a well is drilled for fracking, the pipes in the well are periodically cased with cement to fill the void between the pipe and the side of the well. When the cement casing is done improperly, gas can come up outside the pipe, leading to contamination of groundwater only 100 feet to 200 feet below the surface by gas from thousands of feet down.
However, Wickstrom said enforcement of already existing regulations and avoiding cost-cutting measures in the process should prevent groundwater contamination.
“(We) need to make sure the regulatory people have the resources they need … to make sure all these jobs are done properly,” Wickstrom said.
Greg Nadon, chair of OU’s Department of Geological Sciences, echoed Wickstrom’s concern and said proper regulation, if enforced, can prevent much of the potential environmental damage.
“We have lots of regulations, but is anyone looking to see if you’re doing it right?” Nadon said.
Although neither the ODNR nor the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has recorded fracking-related groundwater contamination, local officials insist that human error is likely and the drilling method should not take place in Athens County.
“The fundamental problem is the state got into bed with the (oil and gas) industry,” said Councilwoman Nancy Bain, D-3rd Ward, adding that the main concern with fracking is that humans make mistakes.
The ODNR is looking into how to strengthen Ohio regulations in regard to fracking in order to avoid human error — and its consequences — seen in other states, said Heidi Hetzel-Evans, an ODNR spokeswoman.
Current regulations on shale drilling require inspection of all aspects of the drilling process, especially the cement casing that prevents chemicals used in fracking from contaminating groundwater, according to Ohio EPA studies and ODNR reports.
“We are years behind Pennsylvania and West Virginia in terms of dealing with these effects,” Hetzel-Evans said, adding that education about oil and gas drilling is another step in ensuring that the process is carried out safely.
Despite these efforts, evidence of fracking’s effects in neighboring states and the industry’s business-centered mentality keep Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl on his guard.
“Oil and gas companies are in a gold-rush mentality,” Wiehl said. “We are currently trying to correct damage and contamination created by unregulated mining, so why would we bring more of that in?”
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