Stay Order Secured for Munroe Falls Drilling Site

NEWS RELEASE

Munroe Falls:

Mayor Larson is proud to inform the residents of Munroe Falls that his administration has made another successful step in the effort to stop the drilling for oil & gas in the community. Armed with conclusive data, including resident petitions and photographs of flooding at the drilling site on the Sonoco Company’s property, Law Director Jack Morrison, Jr. secured a “Stay Order” issued by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. This order, effective April 4, 2008, prevents any further action by Sonoco or the drilling company until ODNR can review the data and set a new hearing date. This process will take at least 90 days. “The flooding at the drilling site on the Sonoco property is of great concern because it is very close to the water wells that supply our drinking water” said Mayor Larson, “if our water is contaminated the state does not have a contingency plan to supply the homes and businesses that depend on this water source. This ‘Stay Order’ is a step in the right direction to get the drilling stopped completely.”

Flooding on the Sonoco property comes from the Cuyahoga River as it rises. Not only can run-off from the drilling site contaminate the ground that holds the drinking water, but it can also contaminate the river. This seems to be taking two steps backwards from the years of work spent trying to clean up the river.

Munroe Falls City Council agrees that gas & oil drilling should not be allowed in this community. On January 2, 2008 the Council passed Resolution #2008-04 requesting that Governor Ted Strickland place a moratorium on this drilling in Munroe Falls. They asked him to consider the river and the water table that this community thrives on. The Governor’s office has been in contact with Mayor Larson but the wheels of government run slowly.

It's time for a quick recap of the ongoing battle over gas and oil drilling in Munroe Falls. Way back in March 2007, the city decided against drilling on city property. In spite of the fact that Munroe Falls would have received a portion of profits from any production, our city government acted with great discretion and opted out, due to the potential health and environmental risks.

What risks? Ohio Environmental Protection Agency hydro-geologist Kathy Metropulos had cautioned city officials against drilling, warning that improper drilling in Munroe Falls could damage the water supply in Cuyahoga Falls, a water supply used by 50,000 people in Cuyahoga Falls, Munroe Falls, and Silver Lake. She said it would cost "millions of dollars" to repair any damage to the Cuyahoga Falls drinking water system.

According to the Stow Sentry article, Ms. Metropolus said that "things like rain water can wash the contaminants into the ground. It is the local authorities who are responsible for protecting the well fields through ordinance or other regulatory means."

At that time, it was noted by Ms. Metropulos that Wooster has spent more than $10 million to correct damage to its water supply, damage that has been directly attributed to local drilling for gas and oil. Since then, we have all heard about the debacle out in Bainbridge, where homeowners wells were affected by a local gas/oil operation.

So here we are, one year later, still wondering how the Ohio legislature could have acted so irresponsibly when passing Ohio HB278, granting as it does, absolute permitting and regulatory power over all gas and oil wells to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. And we all know what absolute power does.

About four weeks ago, Mr. Jack Morrison, Munroe Falls City Law Director, filed an appeal with the ODNR. Mr. Morrison received an immediate response from them requesting a same day phone conference. ODNR informed Mr. Morrison that they would hear oral arguments the next morning at 8:00 AM. He made the trip to Columbus, presented his case, and was informed that a response would be issued in April. He has subsequently been informed that he is to appear before the appeals committee again on April 25, 2008.

Our chances for success are not rosy. What we need is a millionaire benefactor, fed up with the pomposity of ODNR, and disgusted with a legislative body that preaches home rule but does all it can to eliminate it. This benefactor will be asked to underwrite a lengthy court battle questioning the constitutionality of HB278.

Time and money favor the drillers. Our elected representatives in Columbus (Messrs. Coughlin and Widowfield) either support HB278 or have other political distractions that prevent them from supporting two local cities within their districts that have passed council resolutions (unanimously) opposing the drilling.

People in Columbus have no business telling us how to run our local communities when it comes to health and environmental issues. None, whatsoever.

Coughlin Checks In

Finally found senator Coughlin. Responding to my email of 11-30-07, he noted in a letter received yesterday that he was responding to my email regarding drilling in my Hudson neighborhood. I'll spare you the rest.

Wouldn't it be nice to have at least one state representative who is still paying some attention to local matters? Maybe we can do something about that.

Crooked, Rampant River

Here are views of the Cuyahoga River shot from the north bank, today, February 8, 2008.

The water has inundated the bike and hike path, just below the Munroe Falls fire station.

River water races just below the parking lot at Sonoco (left).

No way this river could ever flood during drilling, eh?

Cuyahoga Falls Passes Resolution Opposing Drilling

As expected, the Cuyahoga Falls City Council passed their resolution opposing the gas and oil drilling. It has been signed by the mayor, and should be on its way to the governor by now.

Thanks to both the Munroe Falls and Cuyahoga Falls council members for their support, interest, involvement, and fast action. Both resolutions were passed quickly and unanimously.

Mr. Phil Carin from the Falls Press called yesterday with a list of questions about local concerns and about the wider issue of how HB278 affects home rule. Check the next edition of the CF Press and Stow Sentry for a follow up article.

Cuyahoga Falls Council Meeting 1-22-08

Cuyahoga Falls graciously extended an invitation to me to speak at tonight's council meeting. Members listened attentively and asked thoughtful questions. I'll lay odds that their resolution opposing the drilling will pass quickly.

After the meeting, one council member told me that she had been inundated with emails and phone calls from Beck Energy at an earlier time, urging her to get behind a gas/oil well they wished to drill right in Water Park, a project that CF wisely rejected.

The frustration felt by many local officials when they discover that they no longer have control over community health and safety issues is palpable. The common reaction is one of surprise, followed by annoyed disappointment that Columbus legislators have taken it upon themselves to wrest home rule from us; wondering what will be next.

Apparently, Mr. Opritza of ODNR has assured the water department that ground water testing will be a part of the gas/oil drilling procedure. Super. If tests come back positive for harmful content, we hope ODNR will send us a case of Perrier for our trouble.

Getting closer to the bottom of the ninth now. Please stop by Munroe Falls city hall to sign the petition if you haven't already done so.

The link below opens or downloads copies of the Munroe Falls (passed) and Cuyahoga Falls (proposed last night) council resolutions.

Munroe Falls Resolution

Cuyahoga Falls Resolution

Top of the Ninth, Two Out

I attended a meeting today with Mayor Frank Larson, an Ohio EPA representative, and Cuyahoga Falls water department officials, regarding the proposed gas/oil well at Sonoco property in Munroe Falls. There was a lengthy discussion, complete with colorful maps showing why the water well field supplying our drinking water is particularly susceptible to contamination from a surface spill, especially one originating upstream.

Existing geological survey information suggests that the water supply we drink from sits in a subterranean trough below a loamy layer that affords little protection from a surface spill. Subterranean migration of harmful toxins is also a possibility.

I asked what effect Cuyahoga River flooding would have. Shrugs. How about an earthquake? Shrugs again. Nobody knows.

The discussion was slightly academic at times, although a general consensus seemed to emerge that the stakes in this issue are far too high to be ignored. The EPA representative was pleasant and informative, and while her presentation clearly validated our fears, it was clear that if any neck is to be stuck out making a public statement in opposition to this drilling, it will not be hers.

ODNR's insistent support of its current stand -- in spite of clear and growing local opposition -- is inexplicable, especially when one compares the paltry potential profits from the gas/oil well to the cost and inconvenience that would be required to "clean" a contaminated drinking water supply. The ODNR employees making this decision do not live here, drink the water, or seem to care about local concerns. All they know is that HB278 gives them total authority, and we all know what absolute power does. People 150 miles away will decide issues that should be reserved for local government.

Cuyahoga Falls council has not yet passed a resolution opposing the well, and Mayor Robart is silent. The proposed drilling site may be located in Munroe Falls, but the aquifer is in Cuyahoga Falls. The two communities need to join forces and direct their resources and political influence quickly and persistently.

Top of the ninth, folks, two outs.