Eight Farmers and Residents Block K&H Driveway for Local Control Over Injection Wells

Eight farmers and local business leaders blocked the driveway leading to a fracking waste disposal site operated by K&H Partners of West Virginia on Saturday, Feb. 1, National Freedom Day. The eight held a banner reading “Our Water, Our Lives! Their Poison, Their Lies!” and forced at least two trucks carrying toxic frack waste to divert during the two hour rally. The blockade was supported by more than 150 Torch, Coolville, and Athens residents of all ages. Many dressed in “hazmat” suits and carried large skulls, which waved above the crowd.

The eight were arrested by the Athens County Sheriff’s Office and charged with trespassing. Observers described the arrests as calm and dignified. The eight were quickly processed and released on their own recognizance with summons to appear in court Monday 3 Feb 2014.

Holding a banner that read “Our Water, Our Lives! Their Poison, Their Lies!” these Athens County residents stopped frack waste trucks from entering the site for hours, turning away several trucks during the 3-hour action.  They want K&H and the ODNR to revoke a recent injection well permit for a second K&H well on the site. They and the many hundreds of supporters, including Athens County Commissioners and Athens City Council, are calling for a ban on injection wells in Ohio and in Athens County specifically.

Currently the Troy Township site contains a single Class II injection well and associated waste tanks owned and operated by K&H; the current well injects an average of 2,098 barrels of toxic frack waste per day. The permit being appealed would allow the drilling of a second well on the same property; which would receive an additional 4,000 barrels per day or more. The two wells are located 1.7 miles from the Hocking, 2.2 miles from the Ohio River, and 2.2 miles from Coolville Elementary School. 53% or more of the waste will come from other states with stronger regulations than Ohio, based on ODNR statistics for current frackwaste dumping in the state.

The permit is under appeal by the Athens County Fracking Action Network, following a unanimous vote in December by the Athens City Council and the Athens County Commissioners to oppose the permitting of the second well.

“I have done everything a citizen is supposed to do to implore elected leaders to protect my community” explained Christine Hughes, owner of the Village Bakery and several other businesses, “I cannot stand by while farmers are forced to accept toxic drilling waste and destruction of their property and property values.”

Michelle Ajamian, owner of a local grain mill, concurred: “I have lived in rural Athens County since 1976.  Both my children were born, schooled, and raised here. I’m willing to face arrest now to prevent the permanent contamination of our water in the future. I worry about what just happened in West Virginia, happening here.”

“I’ve spoken against fracking and injection wells with my mouth, pen, phone, and keyboard, only to receive no response from Ohio’s legislators. It’s now my conviction that it’s time for me to speak with my very body,” said local pastor M. Smiles Welch of Athens.

“Our very way of life is being threatened by unsafe, short sighted practices.” said mill employee and father Sean Pavlac. “Our water sources are in danger of being contaminated by hazardous and in many cases, radioactive waste.”

“I’m 43 and have lived in Athens since 1993.  I raised my two children here. We ALL need clean water, air and land.” said Liz Florentine, Village Bakery employee.

The ralliers spoke and sang for three hours on a beautiful day welcomed by all after weeks of frigid weather, although the unseasonable 50 degree temperatures were not lost on those who spoke against fossil fuel burning and the high cost of fracking to climate stability. More than one speaker addressed the extremely high methane emissions associated with fracking and methane’s potency as a greenhouse gas. Methane is 75-100 times more potent than CO2 at the 20-year time frame. CO2 emissions from fracking are also significant, making fracking worse than coal for climate. Ever seen a solar spill? We had one Saturday.

Rally organizers include members of Appalachia Resist and the Athens County Fracking Action Network. Further information, including an in-depth timeline of the legal battle over the K&H 2 well, can be found at acfan.org.

Athens News and Athens Messenger covered the story, the latter including quotes from six of the eight arrestees’ quotes (to be uploaded here soon) and a video and photos.

UPDATES: The eight were arraigned on Monday, witnessed by a full court room of supporters, some of whom stayed to rally by the Courthouse through the snowy morning. The pretrial hearing is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 24 at 8 a.m. at the Athens Municipal Court, second floor of the City building on E. Washington St., Athens.