The Athens County Commissioners decided Tuesday to host a public meeting to discuss local citizens’ concerns about injection wells in Athens County.
Though the commissioners didn’t announce an exact date, Commissioner Lenny Eliason said the meeting would be held at the Athens Community Center within the next few weeks.
The meeting will also be open to citizens of Athens, representatives from federal and state agencies and operators of injection wells in Athens County.
Andrea Reik, Zella Nisley and Heather Cantino, all members of the Athens County Fracking Action Network, brought a request for the public forum to the commissioners after saying the Ohio Department of Natural Resources ignored their objections to an application for the K&H injection well in Athens County.
Once an objection is filed, ODNR has 30 days to hold a public hearing — but only if it sees fit, Cantino said.
A letter dated Sept. 9 indicated that the commissioners submitted a request for a public hearing, but after more than a month, ODNR has failed to respond. Reik added that about 100 citizens also submitted complaints about the K&H injection well.
“You know, I’ve always believed ODNR was protecting our lands for the well-being of the citizens, and that’s what their mission is. I don’t believe that any longer,” Reik said. “I believe they’re just stepping aside at the interest of oil and gas and not fulfilling their responsibilities.”
Cantino said the state of Ohio has the right to govern issues such as injection wells without being directly under the control of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
By inviting Congressional representatives and those from the EPA, Eliason believes the meeting might elicit a response from ODNR.
“I think it’s important that people have a forum to express their concerns, and we’ll forward that to the appropriate officials,” Eliason said. “It will be an opportunity for those at the state level to address our concerns again.”
Commissioner Charlie Adkins agrees with the plan to hold a public meeting but wishes it didn’t have to happen.
“You’d think that Ohio would protect Ohio,” Adkins said. “You wouldn’t think that getting the feds involved is something we should have to do.”
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