An Important Message About Gas Well Drilling and the Governor’s Proposed New Energy Policy

March, 2012

Dear Neighbor:

In recent months you have seen many news reports about hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ in the Utica and Marcellus shale formations under the northeastern quadrant of Ohio. Gates Mills sits over the Utica Shale formation. It has been several years since a well was drilled in Gates Mills. This hiatus, however, is only temporary. By 2014 there will be hundreds of deep fractured wells in this part of Ohio, and we are not immune from having them drilled here.

Communities like Gates Mills have no local control over the permitting process, the forced ‘pooling’ of contingent properties to be included in a drilling application, the safety protocols for drilling, the ongoing monitoring of active wells, or the capping of dry wells. Nor does the community benefit from severance taxes on the revenues from drilling, or the penalties occasionally levied for safety violations. Costs to the Village for responding to a gas well incident or accident are not reimbursed by the state or by the local residents owning these wells. The state treats drilling as a private matter between a landowner and driller. Local communities such as ours cannot impede this business transaction.

But there is great concern about the possible contamination of the underground water table by natural gas, methane, and the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. There are also issues related to the disposal of fracking wastewater, and the venting of methane gas and hydrogen sulfide into the atmosphere. Some or all of these issues could be dealt with properly with good regulations and enforcement. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is woefully understaffed, and working with regulations that may not adequately address issues related to the new deep-fracking technology. We need strict regulations and enforcement mechanisms that involve the safety forces in local communities.

We ask that you personally get involved and contact the Governor, Attorney General, and our state legislators to let them know you are concerned about their commitment to protecting the environment, and safety of local municipalities like Gates Mills who no longer have local control over these very important issues. Your personally written and mailed letter will have the greatest positive impact upon our State of Ohio elected officials.

Advise family, friends, neighbors, community organizations, and business leaders of your concerns and ask them to join in this regional effort.

Sincerely,

Gates Mills Gas Well Safety Committee

A Guide for Your Letter to State Elected Officials

Date  

Dear                          :  

In  this  first  paragraph  talk  about  being  a  resident  of  Gates  Mills,  including  the  length  of  residence,  and   the  advantages  of  life  in  our  community.      

Next,  note  whether  you  voted  for  this  elected  official  (if  applicable),  and  what  you  appreciate  about   his/her  service  to  our  district  or  state.    Elected  officials  will  respond  more  positively  to  someone  who   follows  his/her  political  career  and  is  knowledgeable  about  his/her  views  on  issues  of  mutual  concern.     The  website  www.ohio.gov  will  direct  you  to  information  about  these  elected  officials.  

The  main  body  of  the  letter  should  address  your  concerns  about  safety  controls  over  fracking,  local   control  over  safety  inspections  and  monitoring  of  drilling  operations,  and  revenue-­‐sharing  to  cover  the   cost  of  providing  for  public  safety.  

1. •There  is  potential  damage  to  water  wells  and  underground  aquifers  from  methane  migration   and  the  chemicals  pushed  into  wells  under  high  pressure  during  fracking.    Rigorous  scientific   study  has  been  scant  because  drilling  companies  have  been  exempt  from  federal  safe  drinking   water  statutes,  and  hence  not  required  to  list  the  chemicals  they  push  down  wells.  
   

2. •Briny  water  including  iron,  chromium,  radium  and  salt  emerges  as  the  waste  product  of  fracking.     Treatment  plants  are  not  prepared  to  deal  with  these  radioactive  waste  products.    Injecting  this   briny  wastewater  back  into  injection  wells  is  not  the  answer  either  as  it  may  seep  into  the   ground  and  eventually  the  water  table.  
   

3. •Property  owners  and  the  state  will  benefit  financially  from  hydraulic  fracturing.    Jobs  and   associated  business  creation  will  be  a  significant  benefit  to  this  area.    But  what  about  the   community  as  a  whole?    We  bear  the  risk  and  none  of  the  reward.    Who  is  protecting  the  natural   resources  of  our  Village:    water,  air,  plans,  wildlife,  property  values,  and  our  way  of  life  in  this   idyllic  setting?  
   

4. • In  summary,  fracking  outcomes  are  critical  to  the  region’s  future  and  can  have  a  very  adverse   impact  on  local  communities  if  not  properly  managed,  including  extending  local  control,   asserting  safety  expectations,  engaging  in  prudent  strategic  planning,  and    ensuring   environmental  protection  for  all.  
   Ask  if  this  state  official  will  meet  with  local  elected  officials  from  Gates  Mills?      
   Close  with  the  expectation  of  hearing  from  this  state  official  about  his/her  response  to  your  urgent   request  for  answers.
   

Sincerely,  
Name   Address   Phone  number   Email  address  

Your letter to elected state officials may look like this,

but a personally written and mailed letter will have the greatest impact.

Governor  John  Kasich  

Riffe  Center,  30th  Floor  

77  South  High  Street   Columbus,  Ohio  43215-6117    

Dear  Governor  Kasich:  

I  am  a  long  time  resident  of  the  Village  of  Gates  Mills.    Our  village  is  a  charming  residential  community   situated  along  the  banks  of  the  Chagrin  River.    Many  of  our  homes  were  build  in  the  early  part  of  the   nineteenth  century,  and  are  now  protected  because  of  their  historical  value.    Our  community  is  a  bird   sanctuary  and,  through  the  efforts  of  the  Gates  Mills  Land  Conservancy,  it  has  protected  land  for  the   enjoyment  of  future  generations.  

With  the  loss  of  home  rule,  our  village  is  now  home  to  forty-seven  fracked  gas  and  oil  wells,  some  just   100  feet  from  a  residence.    Our  village  has  no  local  control  over  the  placement  of  these  wells,  nor  can  it   inspect  these  wells  for  safety.    Our  village  safety  personnel,  however,  are  necessarily  the  first   responders  to  gas  well  safety  incidents.    There  is  a  greater  concern  that  no  one  is  effectively  monitoring   the  natural  and  man-made  effluents  from  these  wells.    Who  is  protecting  the  water,  air,  plants,  wildlife,   and  people  of  our  idyllic  valley?  

I  have  not  previously  written  to  you,  but  feel  compelled  to  do  so  now  that  we  face  a  second  wave  of   drilling  aimed  at  resources  in  the  deeper  Utica  shale  deposits.    Deep-fracked  gas  and  oil  wells  are  going   to  bring  an  unprecedented  level  of  industrialization  to  our  quiet  residential  community.    Additionally,   there  are  real  concerns  about  the  health,  safety  and  environmental  aspects  of  this  type  of  drilling.    This   is  of  great  concern  because  our  locally  elected  officials  cannot,  by  law,  give  health  and  safety  concerns   their  appropriate  priority.  

I  hope  that  you  would  meet  with  our  local  officials  on  this  issue,  as  it  is  their  duty  and  responsibility  to   protect  the  health  and  safety  of  our  community.    I  look  forward  to  hearing  from  you.  

With  warm  wishes,    
Name  
Address   Phone  Number   Email  Address