Anti-fracking group continues fight 5 years after Valley quake

At 5pm, we told you about an afternoon prayer rally which remembered the Valley's first man- made earthquake.

The group continues to demand tougher regulations against waste-water injection plants.

27 First News Reporter Cameron O'Brien also spoke with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Here she is with their response.

I REMEMBER STANDING IN MY LIVING ROOM, AND I COULD ALMOST HEAR SOMETHING.

LIKE A RUMBLE.

I WAS SITITNG OIN THE COUCH WATCHING TELEVISION, AND UH THE HOUSE STARTED SHAKING.

Many people in parts of Mahoning County still remember the feeling of the earth shaking under their feet on New Years Eve in 2011.

That 4.

0 earthquake was later tied to a fracking waste injection well.

Ohio Department of Natuaral Resources says that event.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE CERTAINLY HAVE LEARNED A LOT IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

And they've done a lot too.

ODNR invested in maximum pressure technologies that regulate how deep injection well operators can drill.

They also built a sizemic network in the eastern half of ohio.

They have several monitoring sites in both Trumbull and Mahoning Counties.

WHEN SIZEMIC ACTIVITY IS DETECTED, A REAL TIME ALERT IS GIVEN TO OUR SIZEMIC STAFF, AND WE'RE ABLE TO ANALYZE WHATS GOING ON AND THEN CAN MAKE A REGULATORY DECISION.

Jane Spies with Frack Free America says ODNR's efforts just aren't enough.

She says the fluids contained in injection wells are toxic to humans– and that's just ONE of the side effects HEN THERE ARE JUST THE AIR QUALITY ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SPILL ISSUES.

LIKE THEY HAD IN VIENNA, THAT WAS A MESS.

IT DESTROYED TWO WETLANDS AND A POND.

Vienna is still reeling from the injection well spill in 2015 Leaders say that that well is increasing truck traffic– and killing the economy.

OME HOMES THAT ARE FOR SALE ADJACENT TO INJECTION WELLS, THEY CAN'T BE SOLD.

WHO WANTS TO LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM AN INJECTION WELL.

ODNR says that they take the community's concerns seriously.

I THINK IF YOU TOOK A LOOK AT OUR RULE MAKING PROCESS.

WE CERTAINLY INCLUDE THE FEEDBACK FROM ALL SIDES.

jane says that they could do a better job.

YOU REALLY NEED TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE RIGHT HERE.

WE'RE LIVING WITH THIS.

AND WE'RE MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS AND SOMETIMES I THINK WE'RE NOT SEEN THAT WAY.

In Coitsville, Cameron O'Brien, WKBN 27 First News.

Source: Youtube

Anti-fracking group continues fight 5 years after Valley quake