Youngstown, Ohio-1/23/13 – Frackfree America National Coalition (based in Youngstown, Ohio www.frackfreeamerica.org ) anticipates that for many Youngstown residents who felt the now-famous fracking waste injection well-related 4.0 magnitude earthquake on Dec. 31, 2011 or who are concerned about protecting Mill Creek Park from fracking, the following rally will be a must-attend event.

Concerned citizens of Frackfree America National Coalition (based in Youngstown, Ohio) will hold a rally at 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM, Saturday, January 26, 2013, on the front steps of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown to kick off their special petition-signing event planned for the entire day beginning at 10 AM to 8 PM, Eastern time.  The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown is located at 1105 Elm St., Youngstown, Ohio. (Elm & Illinois.)

This Saturday event is part of an ongoing effort to get the required number of signatures from Youngstown registered voters in order to put a question on the May Primary ballot for voters to decide if they want local control to protect their water, air, and land.  The effort is also known as the Community Bill of Rights.  

Media and the public are encouraged to please attend.

This Community Bill of Rights seeks to re-establish local control that concerned citizens believe was unjustly taken away in 2004.  Frackfree Mahoning Valley and Frackfree America National Coalition have been providing educational efforts and going door-to-door to seek signatures.

After Saturday’s 10 AM rally, canvassers plan to go door-to-door in the local area to seek prospective signers.

“We welcome and invite anyone who wants to sign the petition, or would like more information about the effort before signing, to come to the church on January 26 at any time between 10 AM and 8 PM where members of Frackfree America will be available to help and to provide educational literature.  Canvassers report that the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.  People who felt the earthquake and who love Mill Creek Park and want to keep it safe from fracking comprise a great number of signers, so far. We are extremely pleased with how this is going, and we thank the community for their positive response,” said Susie Beiersdorfer, co-founder of Frackfree America National Coalition.

In addition to the January 26 signing event and rally, other times and places where Youngstown citizens can sign the petition can be found at the following website address:

http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/youngstownpetition.html

Frackfree America National Coalition says that local self-government control is essential for local officials to safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare of their constituents and protect drinking water sources, air, and soil, including farmland. All citizens have a right to drink clean water, breathe clean air, and live on unpolluted land.

Especially in light of the growing number nationwide of reports of accidents or mishaps related to gas and oil drilling and related processes and infrastructure, this is a timely concern. The recent Sissonville, West Virginia gas line explosion that damaged homes and part of the freeway is one example of the need for citizens and officials to address these kinds of issues immediately.

See: NBC Nightly News, December 11, 2012: “Gas line explodes in West Virginia; homes burn, freeway damaged":

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/11/15845530-gas-line-explodes-in-west-virginia-homes-burn-freeway-damaged?lite

Furthermore, when spills, leaks, or contamination occur, first responders and physicians must know precisely what substances they are dealing with in order to protect themselves and the public from harm. Company “trade secrets” policies and exemptions of the oil and gas industry from some laws inhibit adequate knowledge at this point in time.

For example, an excerpt follows from a news article about an Ohio oil well leak. The article is titled, “Ohio closes oil well, questions remain,” January 17, 2013, by Shelley Grieshop, The Daily Standard. The author quoted Auglaize County EMA Director Troy Anderson:

“… St. Marys Township Fire Department, which received the initial call about the leak, also has no information on file, he added.

Owners of oil and gas wells legally do not have to provide local authorities with any information even though they must respond to public health threats. Permits and other requirements are on file only with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.”

http://www.dailystandard.com/archive/story_single.php?rec_id=20053

The  oil spill in St. Marys, Ohio is also discussed in an article (updated on January 21, 2013,)  by Tricia Bell, titled,  “Officials investigate St. Marys oil spill,”  (hometownstations.com ) An excerpt follows:

“St. Marys, Ohio - What seemed to be a small oil spill on Friday has grown into a much more difficult to contain crude oil release into waterways in Auglaize County.”

http://www.hometownstations.com/story/20584854/officials-investigate-st-marys-oil-spill

The latter Ohio example shows that not only are reports of concerns from residents or officials coming in from other parts of the country where drilling or hydraulic fracturing has been going on for a while, Ohio residents are presenting their own increasing number of concerns about problems they claim are related to drilling or fracking and related processes.   

For instance, the NBC News “Today Show” did a report about an Ohio family’s concerns about their drinking water. The report is titled, “Rossen Reports: Family discovers their tap water is flammable,” January 11, 2013:

http://todaynews.today.com/_news/2013/01/11/16462830-rossen-reports-family-discovers-their-tap-water-is-flammable?lite

Another Ohio example is shown in a WKYC- TV news video and article from December 5, 2012, titled, “Portage County: Drilling blamed for home damage”:

http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/272365/6/Portage-County-Fracking-blamed-for-home-damage

These reports are in addition to the growing list of community concerns, including a 5- mile long “brine” waste spill in Fowler and countless fish dying in Brookfield, which Frackfree Mahoning Valley has brought to public attention in previous releases.  Even though fracking and related activities have not yet reached anticipated levels in Ohio, concerns and the number of reports of problems are growing.  These incidents have not been adequately addressed, in the groups’ opinion.

Transparency, honesty, scientific information, and public dialogue are essential in resolving these issues. Frackfree America National Coalition renews its call for open public dialogue, preferably televised, on these crucial issues that so profoundly affect our community. This conversation would be a great community service.

The previously cited news stories are relevant to a discussion of the local Community Bill of Rights petition because nationwide, and in Youngstown, community officials who represent their constituents’ public interest need local control to fulfill their official obligations to safeguard public health, safety, and well-being.

Frackfree America’s position is that, based upon mounting evidence, the risks to public health and safety along with social costs posed by fracking and related processes are too high to accept, and the technology is not far enough advanced to do fracking and related processes safely, therefore it must be stopped.

Frackfree America says that the public has a right to decide how they want to address these concerns in their own local communities in order to protect the public welfare…hence the need for the local ballot question for the Community Bill of Rights.

It is the responsible thing to do to have an informed public making informed decisions about how they want their communities to be, based upon science and principles of good ethics.

For a basic overview of fracking –related issues please see:  “Unearthed: The Fracking Façade” YouTube:  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPIEzSwPwT0

For more information, please see a previous press release (12/26/12)  RE: “March to the Promised Land Rally”:
http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/#pressrelease12-26

The Frackfree America National Coalition website is at:     
www.frackfreeamerica.org

Subscribe to the Frackfree America Free E-mail Listserv for important updates and information:
http://frackfreeamerica.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=ba7fe7ec95cf7d5295e545089&id=9c918b0843

Join the upcoming Second National Rally Day:  Spring, 2013 at:
www.frackfreeamerica.org

Find Frackfree America on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Frackfree

For Media Inquiries or for more information, please call or e-mail:

frackfreeamerica@gmail.com     234-201-8007

                                                           # # #

Are Cows The New Canaries?
Important event !  Friday, Dec. 28
The public is invited to please come to Youngstown, Ohio, on Friday, December 28, 2012, for an exciting  rally and march to help raise public awareness of fracking and related processes.  
This is a great opportunity for all of us to tell more people about
what is really going on as it relates to fracking:
Event details follow:

March To The Promised Land Rally
- a Promised Land-movie-related rally!*

Dec 28, Friday, 12:30pm - 2pm

The event will assemble** near the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown (UUYO), 1105 Elm St. (Elm & Illinois), Youngstown, Ohio 44505, and other locations to be determined. Great speakers and Promised Land movie extras are scheduled to appear! The rally keynote speaker will be Douglas Shields, who is featured in Gasland filmmaker Josh Fox's film "The Sky is Pink" and is a former Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania City Council President, who in 2010 sponsored and secured the first ban of shale gas extraction drilling in the city of Pittsburgh.

Matt Damon's and John Krasinski's new movie "Promised Land" will be opening soon on December 28 (select locations) and January 4 nationwide. The film posters have the conversation-starting tagline, "What's your price?..."

Frackfree America encourages everyone to see the movie, Promised Land, when it comes to a theater in your area.

More exciting details will follow. Please keep checking back to the links below.
(And / or subscribe to the free Frackfree America National Coalition listserv http://eepurl.com/oHOKr for more updates and other fracking-related information). Thanks! Please share and distribute widely.

 *Just to clarify: movie, Promised Land, will NOT be shown at this "March to the Promised Land Rally." This rally/march, facilitated by Frackfree America National Coalition, is meant to encourage conversation, public awareness of fracking & related issues, & to encourage your attendance at the movie when it comes out in your local area.

**NOTE - transport and seats available for those that need to ride to, and to be seated at the rally :)

Here it is on FB: http://www.facebook.com/events/419501181455439/   Please FB SHARE / INVITE Guests as able ~ thank you!

Here's the Rally page on our website (FANCy):  http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/promised-land.html

It is also at FFMa calendar: http://bit.ly/12BOZ8m

ALSO , PL Extras FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Promised-Land-Extras-2012/332913823423104

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 28, 2012.
To: News Media
From: Appalachia Resist! and Athens County Fracking Action Network
Contacts: ACFAN,  AR!:  740 591 2693
Re: ODNR INVITES PUBLIC IN, THEN KICKS THEM OUT

ORIGINAL POSTED HERE: http://www.acfan.org/2012/odnr-invites-the-public-in-kicks-them-out/ Includes more images.

Nov 28, 2012, 2 minute video by Don E Wirtshafter. " The Ohio Department of Natural Resources tried to abridge citizen rights to a hearing before granting a permit for a new toxic waste injection well in their community. Instead, they hosted a "public meeting", a dog a pony show that had no legal impact. This is the community's reaction."
LINK to original if player does not load: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZEnMzjK69-k

Other media coverage:

The Columbus Dispatch, November 29, 2012. Columbus, Ohio.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/11/29/fracking-dispute-gets-hotter.html

NBC4i.com, November 29, 2012. Columbus, Ohio.
http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2012/nov/29/landowner-does-not-want-pending-injection-well-her-ar-1257615/

The Athens News, November 28, 2012. Athens, Ohio.
http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-38515-odnr-shuts-down-attempt-at-impromptu-public-hearing-on-injection-well.html?utm_source=contactology&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TheAthenseNEWS%3ATOPNEWS+11%2F29%2F12

2 Previous Protests, June 26, August 15, October 3, 2012:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=506640166022449&set=pb.205575299462272.-2207520000.1354214128&&src=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-snc6%2F175513_506640166022449_1097389779_o.jpg&smallsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-prn1%2F522165_506640166022449_1097389779_n.jpg&size=1800%2C662

Athens County Fracking Action Network and Appalachia Resist!
For immediate release  Nov. 28, 2012
Contacts: Heather Cantino, heather.cantino@gmail.com, 740-594-3338, acfan.org
Grace Hall, 99slow@gmail.com, 740-590-0500, appalachiaresist.wordpress.com

ODNR announces “Open House,” tramples on Truth and Community’s Rights

Ms. Malvena Frost, who owns the property on which the Atha injection well is proposed in Rome Township, Athens County, does not want an injection well on her land. She “fears her only source of drinking water, a private well...will be contaminated," according to public comments submitted on her behalf to ODNR by her attorney, Mike Hollingsworth. Ms. Frost’s comments requested a public hearing on the Atha permit application.  Hers was not the only one: Approximately 100 Athens County residents submitted comments objecting to the Atha permit on grounds of health and safety, requesting a public hearing. This may be the largest number of comments ever submitted to ODNR on an injection well permit application.

If members of the public raise relevant and valid concerns about health and safety, Ohio law requires that a public hearing be held.  Ms. Frost and most of the 100 others received instead a form letter announcing an "open house" would be held. With a week’s notice, the event will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at ODNR E. State St. headquarters, Athens. Phone conversations have elicited statements by ODNR officials that this open house is intended as a substitute for a public hearing.

“This is a clear abuse of discretion on the part of ODNR’s Oil and Gas Chief.  Ohio Administrative Code 1501:9 mandates a public hearing if valid objections are received,” commented Roxanne Groff, member of Athens County Fracking Action Network and speaker at a recent public forum on the Atha permit.  Ms. Groff stated, “It is indefensible for Chief Simmers to dismiss Malvena Frost’s clearly valid and extensive concerns with a form letter. It is also clearly an abuse of discretionary power to categorically dismiss the rest of the 100 comments, which we know contain well substantiated public health and safety concerns.”

A public hearing is a legal forum in which citizens speak to the ODNR one at a time, allowing each statement to be heard by the entire group.  More importantly, comments presented in a public hearing are entered into the legal record and can thus help hold ODNR accountable.  Grace Hall, one of the 100 citizens who submitted comments on the Atha permit application, explained, “A public hearing allows us to hear what fellow citizens' concerns are and allows us to hear citizens' challenges to ODNR's rhetoric.  A hearing provides an opportunity for citizens to broaden their understanding of the issue and brings a level of accountability to officials.  An open house provides none of these things, because members of the public mill simply around the room, talking to various ODNR representatives in a casual one-on-one manner.”   

Athens County Fracking Action Network and Appalachia Resist! object to ODNR's outright dismissal of public comments and denial of a public hearing as a clear breach of public trust. Madeline ffitch, of Appalachia Resist! added, "This 'open house' is simply a way for ODNR to avoid having to face tough questions in public."

One concern cited in letters to ODNR is the content of waste likely to be injected intothe Atha well, as in all Class II wells.  While ODNR claims that the Atha well will accept only local, conventional oil and gas waste, there is no legal restriction on waste accepted. Hundreds of millions of gallons of highly radioactive fracking waste have been injected in Ohio injection wells in the past year.  Over half of waste injected in Ohio last year came from out of state.

Unlike Class I, Class II wells are not designed for hazardous waste. Due to exemptions from federal hazardous waste regulations, oil and gas waste is not legally classified as hazardous. ACFAN member Nancy Pierce, explained the danger of this situation: “Declaring it legally non-hazardous doesn’t make it any less hazardous.  The fracking waste being dumped into Class II wells contains highly toxic toluene, benzene, and other neurotoxic, carcinogenic, and radioactive substances, all of which are regulated as hazardous for all other industries under the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act, and hazardous waste regulations.” She continued, “Ohio does not monitor drinking or groundwater around any Class II injection wells. I don’t understand how Heidi Hetzel-Evans can repeatedly claim these wells haven’t contaminated water when ODNR does not monitor water or soil to find out whether there’s contamination from its wells.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics “recommends that families with private drinking water wells in NGE/HF [natural gas extraction/hydraulic fracturing] areas should consider testing the wells before drilling begins and on a regular basis thereafter for chloride, sodium, barium, strontium and VOCs…” This is not surprising, given that industry admits that eventual well failure is inevitable. A recent Propublica series documents thousands of cases of well failure and fluid migration from Class I and II injection wells nationwide. In one Ohio case, “pollution had risen 1400 feet through solid rock and was progressing toward surface aquifers” from a Class I well before the breach was discovered.

Athens County Fracking Action Network and Appalachia Resist are planning a coordinated response to this clear breach of the public trust. This response will include a march from the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., to ODNR offices, 360 E State St., where citizens who wish to address one another have been assigned to a “free speech zone” outside. Citizens who wish to participate in the march are asked to meet at 5:30 in the west foyer near the Athens Community Center meeting rooms. The march will begin at 6 p.m. Attendees to the march and rally are asked to dress warmly and bring a flashlight and a mug.  Hot beverages will be provided.

OAC1501:9-3-06(E)(2)(c): If an objection is received, the chief shall rule upon the validity of the objection. If, in the opinion of the chief, such objection is not relevant to the issues of public health or safety, or to good conservation practices, or is without substance, a permit shall be issued. If the chief considers any objection to be relevant to the issues of public health or safety, or to good conservation practices, or to have substance, a hearing shall be called within thirty days of receipt of the objection. Such hearing shall be held at the central office of the division or other location designated by the chief. Notice of the hearing shall be sent by the chief to the applicant and to the person who has filed the objection.

HB 474, which would require a public hearing before permitting and denial of a permit based on local officials’ opposition to an injection well, did not move through the Ohio House this year.
###

September 13, 2012:  
"Update 8: Freedom from Toxic Fracking Waste: National Rally Day was a Huge Success!!”

We are extremely pleased to announce that the September 12, 2012,  “Freedom from Toxic Fracking Waste: National Rally Day” was a huge success!!

Congratulations and our deepest thanks to all of the local Rally Coordinators and all of the Rally Participants who worked so hard for all of us, together, to achieve this successful raising of national awareness of the risks and dangers of fracking and related processes and toxic fracking waste. 

Local rallies were planned nationwide in 14 states!

Reports from local Rally Coordinators are continuing to come in. 

We invite you to please e-mail (  send e-mail to: frackfreeamerica@gmail.com  ) us your reports, photos, or videos about your rally for posting on the website by sending your report with permission for us to post it on the www.frackfreeamerica.org  and www.NEOGAP.org websites or Facebook pages.
 
We collectively reached many, many new people with our message which helps our movement to rapidly grow in order to help protect our families and citizens from fracking and related processes.

But...this is only part of the beginning.. Let’s all keep the forward momentum going!...

 The next “National Rally Day” is already being planned for Winter, 2013 (date to be determined.)  We hope that you will again join with us.  
It’s not too soon to begin signing up to participate on the sign-up page that will be developed for the Winter, 2013 “National Rally Day” event.  (please e-mail us at frackfreeamerica@gmail.com to be listed on the www.frackfreeamerica.org  website as a local rally coordinator. )

Below is the url for the current list of September 12, 2012, rallies. We hope that all September 12, 2012,  National Rally Day coordinators will sign up again for the next National Rally Day to be held in Winter, 2013!:
http://www.frackfreeamerica.org/groups-participating-in-rally-day.html

Links of some of the amazing coverage that local rallies received follow below. 

We hope that if you have not already done so, please e-mail us your reports, photos, or videos about your rally so we can all enjoy your success.

Congratulations to All for a job extremely well done!   Let’s keep moving forward!  Thank you!

Please check Facebook at the following URL for more information, local reports, photos, and videos as they come in. Feel free to post your event results on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/Frackfree
________________________________________

“Hydrofracking rally planned for City Hall”, “Nathan Baker Skaneateles Journal”, September 11, 2012:
http://www.skaneatelesjournal.com/news/updates/hydrofracking-rally-planned-for-city-hall/article_02d6367f-aed8-5c9b-a67e-ee319f428d91.html

“Fracking rally held in Auburn 9-12-12
WSYR ABC 9 Syracuse
Sept. 12, 2012. 11:04 PM EST”, Clip Syndicate:
http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/playlist/1805/3753093?title=broadcast_local_2

"Anti-Fracking Rally in Ravenna, Ohio ", 9/12/12:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxj0Sevv2gk

“Rally held in Auburn to protest fracking”, YNN, 9/13/12:
http://binghamton.ynn.com/content/top_stories/599835/rally-held-in-auburn-to-protest-fracking/

“Group gathers to protest 'fracking'”, CantonRep.com, “By Edd Pritchard CantonRep.com staff writer”, 9/12/12:
http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x1107519323/Group-gathers-to-protest-fracking
 
“Local Group Joins in on National Anti-Fracking Rally”, WKBN-27- FirstNews, 9/12/12:
http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/local/story/Local-Group-Joins-in-on-National-Anti-Fracking/4Ja-PEUeIE62MbUc502ipQ.cspx

“Geauga County residents rally against fracking”, By Brandon Blackwell, The Plain Dealer, 9/12/12:
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/09/geauga_county_residents_rally.html

“Anti-fracking groups organize nationwide rallies
Portage County group say job claims are exaggerated”, “by WKSU's SIMON HUSTED”, WKSU, 9/12/12:
http://www.wksu.org/news/story/33072

“Group protests local fracking in Youngstown,” By BURTON SPEAKMAN, The Vindicator, 9/12/12:
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/sep/13/group-protests-local-fracking-youngstown/

“US rally to raise awareness of fracking risks
Posted on 07 September 2012 by Priyanka Shrestha”, Energy Live News,
http://www.energylivenews.com/2012/09/07/us-rally-to-raise-awareness-of-fracking-risks/


Find more information and rally reports at: www.facebook.com/Frackfree