Protesters Blockade Fracking Well Site in Ohio

More than 40 Ohio residents blockaded a fracking well site demanding “Clean Water, NOT Toxic Waste.”

The ODNR has permitted a horizontal fracking well inside the environmentally-protected zone of the Meander Reservoir in Ohio’s Mahoning Valley without consulting the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the overseeing Mahoning Valley Sanitary District.

Today, activists with Frackfree Mahoning Valley protested this well site and formed a blockade at the entrance of the site, refusing to move. They arrived at 10:30 a.m. and after more than four hours of blockading the entrance, activists decided to peacefully resolve the blockade with no arrests or confrontations.

The goal of the protesters was to bring attention to this issue and with a great turnout from the local media, they have been successful.

One of the protesters John Bergen from Ohio said,“Yes, I am afraid, but I can no longer deny the urgency of stopping this—this toxic practice. There wasn't even an environmental impact assessment for this project. It’s drill first, ask questions later.”

When asked what elected officials are doing, Allison Monroe from Ohio, replied, “State and federal government isn’t protecting us, so we have to protect ourselves.”
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