A Fracking Forum held in Mansfield, Ohio, last week prompted more than four hours of discussion between residents and visiting state representatives, according to the Mansfield Business Journal. Republican State Rep. David Hall and Democrat State Rep. Jay Goyal shared their desire to tighten fracking and injection well regulation, according to the Mansfield News Journal.
Goyal feels there is little to no benefit of having an injection well in the community and is drafting legislation to require all brine water be tested by a third party. Hall stated the Youngstown earthquake were likely caused by drilling too deeply into the earth and has been impressed by wellhead safety he experienced during a four state tour.
Ohioans shared their thoughts on possible changes to fracking regulations via email, instant messaging and Twitter.
* "My cousin was at the meeting and he was really interested in finding out if we could follow the Canadian model of using propane gel to extract shale instead of brine water. Supposedly, there is less possible contamination from that process because there is no wastewater byproduct. The representatives seemed to be receptive to the idea and aware of the new technology." -- Marg McCoy, office manager, Mansfield.
* "The jobs promised will never be realized or permanent. Even if more safety regulations are put into place and tracing dye is used, there is still too much of a potential for harm to natural resources. Natural gas prices are falling and the drilling companies will soon lose interest and leave us with nothing but a big mess." -- Conner Newstead, Wilmington College student, Hillsboro.
* "We need the jobs and the dropping natural gas prices will help all Ohioans. I am glad that increased safety measures are coming, so we can continue with the shale boom in Ohio. Local communities need the tax revenue and residents need the money from leasing mineral rights or selling land. The Youngstown earthquakes mean the injection well site is not suitable for drilling. Oil and gas drilling have gone on for decades in Ohio without any environmental disasters." -- Jon Laughlin, retired firefighter, Newark.
* "The forum was a great idea and is being repeated elsewhere in the state. We need to know where our representatives stand on this issue. We do not need more safety regulations or to copy Canada's technology, we need a moratorium on fracking. President Obama understands the problem far better than our small town Ohio career politicians who lucked into a cushy job in Columbus. The Youngstown earthquakes and halt to drilling in Wayne National Forest for the sake of the environment should prove the dangers of shale drilling to everyone in Ohio." -- Rashawna Eastman, Ohio State University graduate student, Columbus.
* "Enhanced safety rules and monitoring of wells are the key to furthering the shale boom in Ohio and creating jobs. We can do this without destroying our environment, it has worked fine in other states. We have had gas drilling for years in Ohio without issue. It is just because of all the press that fracking is getting by the far-left that there is such a debate about the long-standing practice now. We need the jobs and a cheaper source of energy to fuel our vehicles." -- Michelle Michaels, clothing boutique manager, Canton
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