00:00:01>> SUPPORT FOR THE STATEWIDE
BROADCAST OF "THE STATE OF OHIO"
00:00:04COMES FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF
PORTER WRIGHT MORRIS, AND
00:00:06ARTHUR LLP, HELPING BUSINESSES
AND INDIVIDUALS SOLVE COMPLEX
00:00:08LEGAL PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT OHIO,
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND AROUND
00:00:11THE WORLD.
ON THE WEB AT PORTERWRIGHT.COM.
00:00:14AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION -- REPRESENTING
00:00:19131,000 TEACHERS, SUPPORT
PROFESSIONALS AND HIGHER
00:00:22EDUCATION FACULTY WHO ARE
WORKING FOR GREAT PUBLIC
00:00:24SCHOOLS FOR EVERY CHILD.
ONLINE AT OHEA.ORG.
00:00:26ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR "THE
STATE OF OHIO" IS MADE POSSIBLE
00:00:30BY ETECH OHIO.
AND THE LUBRIZOL FOUNDATION.
00:00:32>> OHIO'S FIRST EXECUTION OF
THE YEAR IS HALTED IN AN ANGRY
00:00:37OPINION FROM A FEDERAL JUDGE,
WHO BLASTS THE STATE FOR NOT
00:00:41FOLLOWING ITS OWN RULES.
AND A SERIES OF EARTHQUAKES IN
00:00:45NORTHEAST OHIO HAS LED THE
STATE TO STOP THE INJECTION OF
00:00:47WASTEWATER FROM OIL AND GAS
DRILLING INTO WELLS, AND
00:00:50THEY'VE LEFT OPPONENTS OF
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING FRACKING
00:00:55MAD.
WE'LL HEAR FROM CRITICS OF
00:00:58FRACKING, AND FROM THE AGENCY
THAT OVERSEES IT -- AND FROM A
00:01:00SPOKESPERSON FROM THE INDUSTRY
DOING IT.
00:01:02ALL THIS WEEK IN "THE STATE OF
OHIO."
00:01:04>> OHIO'S FIRST SCHEDULED
EXECUTION OF 2012 IS ON HOLD.
00:01:09U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE GREGORY
FROST POSTPONED THE EXECUTION
00:01:12OF 45-YEAR-OLD CHARLES LORRAINE
OF YOUNGSTOWN, CONVICTED OF
00:01:15KILLING AN ELDERLY COUPLE IN
WARREN IN 1986.
00:01:19AFTER A FEW BOTCHED EXECUTIONS,
OHIO CHANGED TO A SINGLE-DRUG
00:01:26METHOD OF PUTTING INMATES TO
DEATH IN 2010.
00:01:27FROST HAS HEARD SEVERAL APPEALS
OF INMATES WHO'VE CLAIMED THE
00:01:32STATE'S WAY OF PERFORMING
EXECUTIONS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
00:01:34FROST WRITES OF HIS FRUSTRATION
IN A BLISTERING 23 PAGE
00:01:40OPINION, WHICH SAYS IN PART --
QUOTING HERE -- "OHIO HAS BEEN
00:01:42IN A DUBIOUS CYCLE OF DEFENDING
OFTEN INDEFENSIBLE CONDUCT,
00:01:48SUBSEQUENTLY REFORMING ITS
PROTOCOL WHEN CALLED ON THAT
00:01:51CONDUCT, AND THEN FAILING TO
FOLLOW THROUGH ON ITS OWN
00:01:53REFORMS."
FROST WRITES THAT THE PRISONS
00:01:56DEPARTMENT HAS LIED TO THE
COURT, AND THAT THAT BECAUSE OF
00:01:59ENDLESS LAWSUITS OVER THE WAY
EXECUTIONS ARE DONE HE FEELS HE
00:02:02MUST -- QUOTING AGAIN --
"CONTINUALLY BABYSIT THE
00:02:06PARTIES."
LITIGATION WOULD END AND
00:02:09EVERYONE COULD MOVE ON, FROST
WRITES IN WORDS HE STRESSES
00:02:12THROUGH ITALICS, "IF OHIO WOULD
ONLY DO WHAT IT SAYS IT WILL
00:02:15DO."
OHIO PUBLIC DEFENDER TIM YOUNG
00:02:18APPLAUDS THE DECISION, WHICH
THE STATE SAYS IT WILL APPEAL.
00:02:20WHILE THE STATE DID PUT FIVE
KILLERS TO DEATH LAST YEAR, THE
00:02:24STATE DELAYED EXECUTIONS AND
MADE CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM
00:02:27AFTER FROST CRITICIZED IT.
LORRAINE WAS SET TO DIE BY
00:02:31LETHAL INJECTION ON WEDNESDAY
AFTER HIS PLEA FOR CLEMENCY WAS
00:02:34REJECTED BY GOVERNOR JOHN
KASICH.
00:02:35IT'S A LONG WAY TO NOVEMBER,
BUT THE 2012 BALLOT IS ALREADY
00:02:41SHAPING UP.
ADVOCATES FOR THE SO-CALLED
00:02:44PERSONHOOD OHIO AMENDMENT
APPEARED BEFORE THE BALLOT
00:02:46BOARD THIS WEEK.
THEY'RE STILL GATHERING
00:02:49SIGNATURES FOR THEIR AMENDMENT,
WHICH IF IT PASSES WOULD GIVE
00:02:52FERTILIZED EGGS THE SAME LEGAL
RIGHTS AS OTHER PERSONS UNDER
00:02:55OHIO LAW.
THE BALLOT BOARD VOTED TO KEEP
00:02:58THE AMENDMENT AS ONE QUESTION
RATHER THAN SPLITTING IT INTO
00:03:00TWO.
IF IT GOES ON THE BALLOT.
00:03:06ALSO THIS WEEK, BACKERS OF A
CITIZEN-INITIATED LAW THAT
00:03:09WOULD BAN DOG AUCTIONS IN OHIO
WERE TOLD THEY WERE A BIT SHORT
00:03:11ON THEIR SIGNATURES, AND NEED TO
GO OUT AND FETCH 361 MORE.
00:03:14IF THEY DO, THEN THEY CAN START
THE PROCESS OF TAKING THEIR
00:03:16PROPOSAL TO THE LEGISLATURE OR
DOING ANOTHER PETITION DRIVE TO
00:03:19PUT IT BEFORE VOTERS.
OHIO HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE
00:03:29ASKED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
AUDITOR TO REVIEW LEGAL FEES
00:03:31BILLED TO TAXPAYERS BY DEMOCRATS
AS PART OF A CITIZENS' LAWSUIT
00:03:33OVER NEW OHIO HOUSE AND SENATE
DISTRICTS.
00:03:36DEMOCRATS HAVE SOUGHT 73-
THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TAXPAYER
00:03:39FUNDS TO PAY A LAW FIRM TO TAKE
THE CASE TO THE OHIO SUPREME
00:03:41COURT, ACCORDING TO INVOICES
OBTAINED BY THE ASSOCIATED
00:03:44PRESS THROUGH A PUBLIC RECORDS
REQUEST.
00:03:47REPUBLICANS SAY THE STATE
SHOULDN'T BE PAYING PRIVATE
00:03:51CITIZENS' LEGAL FEES.
BUT HOUSE MINORITY LEADER
00:03:54ARMOND BUDISH SAYS THIS IS AN
APPROPRIATE USE OF MONEY THAT
00:03:58WAS GIVEN TO BOTH PARTIES.
>> THEY AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE
00:04:04USED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, FOR
CONSULTING AND LEGAL FEES.
00:04:07THERE WAS NO SPECIFICATION YOU
COULD NOT USE THESE FUNDS FOR
00:04:12LITIGATION COSTS.
AND WE ARE USING THE FUNDS TO
00:04:14TRY TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION,
TO PROTECT VOTERS.
00:04:18THE REPUBLICANS USE THE MONEY TO
PAY FOR A SECRET BUNKER, THEY
00:04:23USED IT TO PAY FOR SOMEBODY TO
COME IN AND GIVE THEM ADVICE ON
00:04:27HOW TO DRAW MAPS THAT THE LUTED
PEOPLE'S VOTE AND SET UP
00:04:31REPUBLICANS.
I THINK IT IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE
00:04:35HERE IN THE WAY THE MONEY IS
BEING USED.
00:04:36>> DEMOCRATS SAY THE
REPUBLICAN-DRAWN MAP VIOLATES
00:04:39PROVISIONS OF THE OHIO
CONSTITUTION THAT PROHIBIT
00:04:42DISTRICTS SPLITTING UP
COMMUNITIES -- AND SAYS THE MAP
00:04:45SPLIT CITIES, COUNTIES, AND
OTHER COMMUNITIES 255 TIMES.
00:04:46DEMOCRATS HAD FILED SUIT OVER
THE GOP DRAWN CONGRESSIONAL
00:04:51DISTRICT MAP, BUT THAT WAS
DROPPED AFTER A NEW MAP WAS
00:04:55APPROVED IN A DEAL TO MERGE THE
TWO PRIMARIES PLANNED FOR 2012
00:04:58INTO ONE ON MARCH 6.
ADVOCATES WHO'VE BEEN FIGHTING
00:05:04AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING MET
FOR A CONFERENCE AT THE
00:05:07STATEHOUSE THIS WEEK, TO HEAR
THE LATEST IN WHAT THE STATE IS
00:05:09DOING ABOUT IT.
ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE DEWINE
00:05:12TOLD THE CROWD HUMAN
TRAFFICKING ISN'T JUST A
00:05:13STATEWIDE PROBLEM, NOR JUST A
NATIONAL ONE.
00:05:15>> BY SOME ESTIMATES HUMAN
TRAFFICKING IS A $32 BILLION A
00:05:24YEAR INTERNATIONAL ENTERPRISE.
OVER 100,000 CHILDREN IN THE
00:05:28UNITED STATES ALONE ARE THOUGHT
TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SEX TRADE.
00:05:31STUDIES SUGGEST NEARLY HALF OF
CONFIRMED HUMAN TRACKING CASES
00:05:36INVOLVE VICTIMS UNDER 18 YEARS
OF AGE.
00:05:38AND MOST OF THE GIRLS ENGAGED IN
SEX TRAFFICKING BEGAN BETWEEN
00:05:42THE AGES OF 12-14.
>> REP. TERESA FEDOR OF TOLEDO
00:05:46HOSTED THE EVENT -- FOR YEARS,
TOLEDO HAS BEEN ONE OF THE TOP
00:05:49CITIES IN THE NATION DEALING
WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
00:05:50AN AREA OF NORTHEAST OHIO HAS
BEEN ROCKED NEARLY A DOZEN
00:05:54TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH
MINOR EARTHQUAKES THAT ARE
00:05:58BEING CONNECTED TO A DEEP
INJECTION WELL NEAR YOUNGSTOWN.
00:06:00THE WELL WAS SET UP TO HOLD THE
CHEMICAL-LADEN WASTEWATER FROM
00:06:06OIL AND GAS DRILLING, INCLUDING
THE CONTROVERSIAL PRACTICE OF
00:06:09HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OR
FRACKING.
00:06:10IT'S THOUGHT THAT THE INJECTION
OF THIS SO-CALLED FRACKWATER
00:06:14NEAR A FAULT LINE CREATED
ENOUGH PRESSURE TO CAUSE
00:06:17SEISMIC ACTIVITY, AND NOT ANY
FRACKING ITSELF.
00:06:20THE STATE HAS IMPOSED A
MORATORIUM ON DISPOSAL OF
00:06:25FRACKWATER INTO THIS WELL AND
FOUR OTHERS IN THE AREA.
00:06:27WHILE A SEISMOLOGIST SAYS HE'S
FOUND THAT THE INJECTION WELL
00:06:31ALMOST CERTAINLY CAUSED THE
QUAKES, D&L ENERGY, THE
00:06:34OPERATOR OF THE WELL, SAYS IT'S
PAYING FOR GEOLOGIC STUDY OF THE
00:06:36AREA.
TO FIND OUT FOR CERTAIN.
00:06:40BUT OPPONENTS OF FRACKING HAVE
SEIZED ON THE SITUATION AS AN
00:06:44OPPORTUNITY TO BRING OUT THEIR
CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THE PROCESS
00:06:46IS DOING TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND
TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
00:06:47THIS WEEK MORE THAN A HUNDRED
PROTESTORS FROM AROUND THE
00:06:51STATE STOOD ON THE WEST STEPS OF
THE STATEHOUSE, CARRYING SIGNS
00:06:54AND CHANTING.
THE GROUP WAS LED BY TERESA
00:06:58MILLS OF THE CENTER FOR HEALTH,
ENVIRONMENT AND JUSTICE,
00:07:01(1:59:00) WHO SPEARHEADED A
COMMUNITY EFFORT THAT ENDED
00:07:03WITH THE SHUTDOWN OF COLUMBUS'
CONTROVERSIAL TRASH BURNING
00:07:06POWER PLANT BACK IN THE EARLY
90S.
00:07:07ACTIVISTS SPOKE TO THE GROUP,
INCLUDING JAMIE FREDERICK OF
00:07:12COITSVILLE, WHO SAYS LIVING
NEAR AN INJECTION WELL COST HER
00:07:14HER LIFE AND MUCH OF HER
FINANCIAL SECURITY.
00:07:15>> I HAVE LOST THE VALUE OF MY
PROPERTY, GONE FROM $125,000 TO
00:07:26NOTHING OVERNIGHT LITERALLY.
AND NO ONE WANTS TO BUY A HOME
00:07:30WITH CONTAMINATED WATER AND NO
ONE WANTS TO BUY A HOME WITH A
00:07:34BIG, UGLY, TOXIC TANKS OUTSIDE
OF THE WINDOW.
00:07:38>> YOU SAID YOU ALSO LOST SOME
OF YOUR GOOD HEALTH?
00:07:42>> I LOST MY GALLBLADDER DUE TO
THE CHEMICALS AND I FORMED A
00:07:46MASSIVE INFECTION IN MY
INTESTINES THAT REQUIRED A
00:07:50SERIES OF SURGERIES THAT HAS
LEFT ME AT VERY HIGH RISK FOR
00:07:53HAMRICK OR BETH IF I WERE TO
EVER TRY TO CARRY A CHILD.
00:07:57>> WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO
HEAR FROM YOU?
00:08:02>> THAT THIS NEEDS TO STOP AND
THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF JOBS OUT
00:08:06THERE THAT COULD BE CREATED, AND
THERE IS CLEAN ENERGY JOBS
00:08:10AVAILABLE THAT DON'T HAVE TO
POISON AND KILL PEOPLE BECAUSE
00:08:15CANCER KILLS AND THESE ARE
CARCINOGENS THAT ARE BEING PUT
00:08:18INTO OUR AIR AND IN ALL OR WHAT
HER.
00:08:22CHILDREN DRINK WATER.
IF ANYTHING, WE NEED TO THINK
00:08:26ABOUT THE CHILDREN.
>> CHELSEA TUNNEL FROM LOVELAND
00:08:29SAYS SHE HAS A STRONG PERSONAL
CONNECTION TO THE ISSUE, BUT IT
00:08:31COMES FROM A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE.
00:08:32>> MY DAD WORKS FOR ODNR SO WE
HAVE THIS FAMILY DEBATE RIGHT
00:08:40NOW.
HE IS ON THE OPPOSING SIDE THAT
00:08:43I AM ON.
WE CURRENTLY, LIKE, HAVE THIS
00:08:46HUGE DISCUSSION ABOUT EXACTLY
WHAT IS GOING ON BECAUSE I WAS
00:08:49RAISED ON A NATURAL
PRESERVATION, WILDLIFE
00:08:52PRESERVATION, WHERE WE HAD
HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRES OF THIS
00:08:55BEAUTIFUL LAND.
COMPLETELY OPENING OF STATE LAND
00:08:58TO BE FRACKED.
MY DAD CHANGING OPINION SINCE
00:09:02WORKING FOR ODNR -- SO IT IS IN
THAT IN THE FAMILY AND IT IS
00:09:08LAND.
IT IS CRITICAL WE STAND UP FOR
00:09:09THIS OTHERWISE OUR LAND WOULD BE
COMPLETELY RUINED.
00:09:11>> LAWMAKERS ALSO SPOKE TO THE
CROWD, INCLUDING REP. NICKIE
00:09:14ANTONIO OF LAKEWOOD IN SUBURBAN
CLEVELAND, WHICH IS AN HOUR AND
00:09:16A HALF AWAY FROM THE INJECTION
WELL THAT'S BEEN SHUT DOWN.
00:09:18BUT SHE SAYS SHE'S CONCERNED
ABOUT THE FUTURE OF LAKE ERIE
00:09:23NEAR HER HOME AND WATER
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
00:09:24>> ALL OFFERS, ALL THE WATER
UNDER OUR LAND BUT WE ARE
00:09:32STANDING ON RIGHT NOW ARE ALL
CONNECTED.
00:09:34YOU CAN'T DO A PROCESS IN ONE
PART OF THE STATE AND NOT AFFECT
00:09:38ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE.
SO, I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS ALL
00:09:41CONNECTED.
>> THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT JOBS.
00:09:44WE NEED THEM ESPECIALLY IN
YOUNGSTOWN.
00:09:47WOULD YOU SAY THAT THAT IS A
RESPONSE?
00:09:50>> I UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED
JOBS.
00:09:51I COME FROM AN AREA WHERE WE
DESPERATELY NEED JOBS.
00:09:54I WANT TO SEE THOSE JOBS COME IN
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY.
00:09:59THIS IS OLD THINKING, FOR THE
MOST PART, IN TERMS OF
00:10:03EXTRACTING GAS AND OIL FROM
UNDERNEATH US.
00:10:05IT IS AN EXHAUST THE BALL, NOT A
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCE.
00:10:08SO WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING MORE ON
THAT AND SUPPLEMENTING MORE ON
00:10:13THAT.
IN THE SHORT TERM, THOUGH, MY
00:10:16CONCERN ABOUT THOSE JOBS IS THAT
THE SAFETY OF THE WORKERS IS
00:10:20MAINTAINED AS WELL AS THE SAFETY
OF THE COMMUNITY.
00:10:22IF THOSE JOBS ARE HERE RIGHT
TODAY IN FRONT OF US, I WANT TO
00:10:25MAKE SURE THOSE WORKERS ARE
WORKING IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
00:10:28WITH THESE EARTHQUAKES AND THE
TOXICITY OF THE FRACKING LIVE
00:10:33WITH, WE DO NOT KNOW THAT FOR
SURE.
00:10:35WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
>> REP. BOB HAGAN IS FROM
00:10:38YOUNGSTOWN, WHICH IS AT THE
EPICENTER OF THE TREMORS AND
00:10:40THE DEBATE.
>> I THINK THAT LIVING IN THE
00:10:44YOUNGSTOWN AREA, 1 MILE FROM THE
EARTHQUAKE, AND AFTER THE
00:10:51INJECTION WELLS STARTED, WE HAD
THE 11 EARTHQUAKES.
00:10:54I THINK IT BEGS THE QUESTION,
WHY DON'T THEY, WITH THE ANSWER?
00:10:58WHY DON'T THEY STOP IT EVEN
LONGER AND MORE OF A DELAY IN
00:11:02THE MORATORIUM?
I ASK FOR A MORATORIUM TODAY ON
00:11:06ALL INJECTION WELLS, UNTIL 2015,
UNTIL WE CAN FIND OUT WHETHER IT
00:11:10IS SAFE.
AGAIN, I AM NOT OPPOSED TO
00:11:13DRILLING.
I AM OPPOSED TO DOING IT WITHOUT
00:11:16MAKING SURE THAT IT IS DONE IN A
SAFE MANNER.
00:11:18THEY ARE NOT DOING IT IN A SAFE
MANNER.
00:11:21>> THESE ARE JOBS, JOBS YOU NEED
IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
00:11:24WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN YOU HEAR
THAT RESPONSE?
00:11:26>> I WANT JOBS.
BUT I ALSO ONCE MORE JOBS, THAT
00:11:30ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE AND
JOBS THAT WILL SUSTAIN US AND
00:11:33NOT JOBS THAT WILL ALLOW SOMEONE
TO SELL AND EXTRA CHEESE BURGER
00:11:36AT MCDONALD'S.
I WANT JOBS THAT WILL BE AROUND
00:11:40FOR A LONG TIME, NOT JUST USE TO
FILL OF MOTEL ROOMS AND HAVE
00:11:43PEOPLE TAKE WHAT THEY CAN OUT OF
MY AREA AND LEAVE.
00:11:46>> DO YOU THINK THE STATE'S
RESPONSE HAS BEEN APPROPRIATE?
00:11:50IN A TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE.
THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE IT CLEAR
00:11:53THE ONLY THING HE REALLY CARES
ABOUT IS DRILLING.
00:11:55THE BOTTOM LINE FOR HIM AND
EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE THE
00:11:58MONEY AND JOBS.
I WANT JOBS, AGAIN.
00:12:00BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY
CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING,
00:12:05PARTICULARLY, TAKING TOXIC
CHEMICALS FROM PENNSYLVANIA
00:12:10BECAUSE THEY DO NOT ALLOW
INJECTION WELLS OVER THERE.
00:12:12AND POSSIBLY, MORE THAN LIKELY,
TAKING IT FROM NEW YORK WHEN
00:12:16THEY START THEIR FRACTURING,
DRILLING.
00:12:21I AM MORE REPAIRED I DID NOT
TRUST THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE HE
00:12:24CERTAINLY HAS NOT STEPPED UP.
ODNR PLAYS GAMES ABOUT HAVING A
00:12:29HEARING IN COLUMBUS THE OF, TO
YOUNGSTOWN.
00:12:32I SEND INVITATION AT THE
INVITATION TO THEM TO COMES TO
00:12:35YOUNG -- TO COME TO YOUNGSTOWN
AND THEY IGNORE THEM.
00:12:38WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?
>> THIS WEEK ODNR DIRECTOR JIM
00:12:42ZEHRINGER DID GO TO YOUNGSTOWN
-- RICK SIMMERS DID GO TO
00:12:50YOUNGSTOWN.
I SPOKE TO THE DIRECTOR AND
00:12:57ZIMMERS.
YOU WERE AT THIS MEETING.
00:13:02TELL US WHAT THE MEETING WAS
LIKE.
00:13:03WHAT WERE CONCERNS RESIDENTS<NO;
>> MANY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE
00:13:17NATURE OF THE FLUIDS, WHETHER
THEY CAN CONTAMINATE GROUND
00:13:20WATER OR THE SURFACE OF THE
LAND.
00:13:22THE RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS THAT
CAN CONTENT -- POTENTIALLY BE IN
00:13:26THE FLUIDS.
AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THESE
00:13:29WELLS TO CAUSE EARTHQUAKES.
AND THE SHEER VOLUME OF WATER
00:13:35THAT COMES INTO OHIO FROM OTHER
STATES AND OTHER REGIONS.
00:13:38>> THE CONCERNS FOUND IT?
THE IDEA OF EARTHQUAKES --
00:13:42BEFORE THE INJECTION WELLS, NO
EARTHQUAKES, NOW WITH THIS
00:13:46ACTIVITY, AND EARTHQUAKES.
IS THERE A CONNECTION?
00:13:49SOME THINK THERE IS.
YOU EVEN HAD A SEISMOLOGIST
00:13:52THERE WHO SAYS IT SEEMS TO BE.
>> WE ARE EVALUATING THE
00:13:55POTENTIAL FOR THE CORRELATION.
WE HAVE ASKED THE COMPANY TO
00:13:59SHUT THE WELL DOWN.
BUT THERE IS ALWAYS THE
00:14:02POTENTIAL THAT IT COULD OCCUR.
BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THERE
00:14:06BEING A -- SEISMIC EVENT IS VERY
RARE.
00:14:10NOT SAYING IT CANNOT OCCUR.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE WATER GOING IN
00:14:14THERE.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOW SAFE
00:14:16IT IS?
SOME OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE
00:14:19CONCERNS.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE
00:14:21CHEMICALS AND EVERYTHING GOING
INTO IT AS WELL?
00:14:24>> THE FEDOR THE GOVERNMENT
THROUGH THE EPA REGULATES THE
00:14:28DISPOSAL OF OIL FIELD WASTE.
THE U.S. EPA HAS AN INJECTION
00:14:34PROGRAM.
IN 1983 OHIO BEGAN TO RUN THE
00:14:38PROGRAM.
WE FOLLOW ALL THE FEDERAL
00:14:41STATUTES.
WE HAVE OUR OWN STATUTES THAT WE
00:14:43APPLY BUT THEY ARE PARALLEL OR
EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE
00:14:47FEDERAL STATUTE.
THE WATERS THAT ARE INJECTED
00:14:54HAVE TO BE A SPECIFIC NATURE.
THEY CAN BE WASTEWATERS USED
00:14:59DURING THE DRILLING.
CONSTRUCTION, PRODUCTION, OR
00:15:04ACTUAL PLUGGING OF THE WELL.
ANY OF THE LIQUID WASTE STREAMS
00:15:07ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACTIVITY
HAVE TO GO TO A CLASS TWO WILL.
00:15:12>> DIRECTOR, LET ME BRING YOU
INTO THIS.
00:15:13THEY CAN ALSO COME FROM OTHER
STATES, THIS WASTE WATER, AND
00:15:18WHAT CAN OHIO ABOUT THAT?
>> REALLY NOT MUCH RIGHT NOW.
00:15:21THIS IS A LEGISLATIVE FEDERAL
ISSUE WHERE IT IS INTERSTATE
00:15:27COMMERCE AND YOU CAN'T STOP
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
00:15:29WE HAVE A GEOLOGY IN OHIO AND A
GOOD PRODUCT -- PROGRAM THAT
00:15:35SOME STATES CHOOSE TO USE AND
ARE PRIMACY ISSUE, THAT RICK
00:15:39REFERRED TO, WE CAN PERMIT A
WELL AND CONSTRUCT WELLS AT A
00:15:44BETTER SPEED AND MORE SAVES THAN
A LOT OF OTHER STATES, SO THEY
00:15:47CHOOSE TO USE OHIO.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN
00:15:50SAY, NO, WE CANNOT TAKE OUT OF
STATE.
00:15:53WE CANNOT DO THAT.
IT IS A FEDERAL LAW.
00:15:56>> YOU SAY THESE WELCOME BE
CONDUCTED SAFELY IN OHIO.
00:16:00YOU STILL HAVE FOLKS SAYING THEY
WERE SICK AND BECAUSE OF THESE
00:16:04WELLS, THAT THEY HAVE LOST VALUE
ON THEIR HOMES AND THEY ACTUALLY
00:16:07LOST SOME OF THEIR HOUSE BECAUSE
OF THESE WELLS.
00:16:09TELL ME, IT IS -- DO THEY HAVE A
VALID CONCERN?
00:16:15>> IF YOU ARE REFERING TO THE
INJECTION WELLS, THERE HAS NEVER
00:16:18BEEN A RECORDED INCIDENTS SINCE
WE TOOK THE PROGRAM OVER OF ANY
00:16:23GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION AND
ANYWAY ASSOCIATED WITH AN
00:16:26INJECTION WELL.
NONE, EVER.
00:16:28>> IT IS THAT JUST BECAUSE IT
HAS NOT BEEN RECORDED OR BEG YOU
00:16:31REALLY DO NOT THINK ANYTHING HAS
HAPPENED TO?
00:16:34>> NO, IT IS NOT JUST BECAUSE
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RECORDED.
00:16:36WE HAVE GEOLOGIST'S THAT
INVESTIGATE SUCH COMPLAINTS AND
00:16:40NONE HAVE BEEN VALIDATED.
>> DIRECTOR, LET ME ASK YOU --
00:16:44REPRESENTATIVE HAGAN SAID AT A
PROTEST THAT HE INVITED YOU TO
00:16:49COME UP AND BE PART OF HEARINGS
AND MEETINGS IN THE YOUNGSTOWN
00:16:51AREA TO TALK TO RESIDENTS.
YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO BE AT THE
00:16:55MEETING THIS WEEK.
THIS STATEMENT TO US WAS, WHAT
00:16:59IS ODNR HIDING?
>> NOTHING, THAT IS THE FLAT
00:17:05ANSWER.
WE INVITED ALL THE ELECTED
00:17:08OFFICIALS FROM THE YOUNGSTOWN
AREA TO A MEETING THIS PAST
00:17:10MONDAY AT ODNR AND SHOW THEM
EVERYTHING WE DO, OUR PROGRAM,
00:17:17HOW ARE WELLS ARE CONSTRUCTED,
HOW THE SEISMIC MATERIAL WORKS
00:17:21-- HOW THE DATA IS COLLECTED.
SO, IF REPRESENTATIVE HAGAN HAS
00:17:29CONCERNS WITH A WILLING TO SIT
DOWN AND GO OVER THEM WITH HIM,
00:17:31BUT MOST THE CONCERNS WE
ADDRESSED WITH THE ELECTED
00:17:34OFFICIALS -- AND HE WAS INVITED
ALSO AND HE CHOSE NOT TO COME UP
00:17:38TO ODNR'S FACILITY.
I THINK WE HAVE THREE OR FOUR
00:17:43PEOPLE AT THE MEETING ON
YOUNGSTOWN WEDNESDAY MEETING.
00:17:45>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE
CONCERNS THESE FOLKS HAVE HAD AN
00:17:49TERMS OF A MORATORIUM.
THE STATE HAS ISSUED A
00:17:51MORATORIUM ON THE DISPOSAL OF
THE WATER INTO THESE WELLS, BUT
00:17:55HAVE FOR SAYING IT IS NOT
ENOUGH.
00:17:58THE WON A TOTAL MORATORIUM, NOT
JUST DISPOSAL ON ALL WELLS BUT
00:18:02ON FRACKING.
>> I TELL YOU, MORATORIUM ON
00:18:06INJECTION WELLS WOULD BE
DEVASTATING TO THE INDUSTRY.
00:18:08WE HAVE 177 WELLS THAT ARE
ACTIVE AND FOR THE PAST 30 OR 35
00:18:13YEARS, NOT AN ISSUE.
WE HAD AN ISSUE IN YOUNGSTOWN,
00:18:18WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER WE HAD
SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT THIS WAS A
00:18:21CONCERN, WE SHUT IT DOWN.
SO, THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN WITH
00:18:25THIS GOVERNOR AND HIS
ADMINISTRATION AND ODNR IS
00:18:29PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE
ENVIRONMENT AND WE WANT TO BE
00:18:31SURE IT HAPPENS.
>> THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS
00:18:35PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT
AND NOT JOBS AND THE ECONOMY?
00:18:37>> THAT MAY BE THE NUMBER-ONE
CONCERN OF THE ECONOMIC
00:18:43DEVELOPMENT PORTION OF THE
STATE, BUT, NO, AT ODNR, WE ARE
00:18:48A REGULATORY AGENCY.
BY LAW, THE STATE OF OHIO HAS TO
00:18:52INJECT ITS BRINE UNDERGROUND.
IT IS STATE LAW.
00:18:55I THINK HOUSE BILL 501 PASSED IN
THE 1980'S.
00:18:59SO, WE FOLLOW THE LAW.
IF LAWMAKERS WANT TO CHANGE
00:19:03THAT, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT.
BUT THIS IS A VERY SAFE
00:19:07OPERATION.
WE ARE ON THE PHONE WITH OTHER
00:19:09FOLKS FROM OTHER STATES -- NORTH
DAKOTA, WEST VIRGINIA,
00:19:14PENNSYLVANIA -- AND ALWAYS GOING
OVER LESSONS LEARNED FROM THEIR
00:19:17PROGRAM.
NORTH DAKOTA, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS
00:19:20400 INJECTION WELLS AND NO
PROBLEM.
00:19:21WE HAVE 177 AND HAD A PROBLEM
WITH ONE AND DEALT WITH
00:19:26IMMEDIATELY.
>> IF IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS
00:19:28WELL AS A PROBLEM, THAT THIS IS
CONNECTED TO THESE EARTHQUAKES,
00:19:32IS IT JUST DOES WELL THAT ITS
SHUTDOWN OR TO YOU LOOK AT ALL
00:19:36OF THE WELLS AND CAN ODNR
SHUTDOWN THE ENTIRE PROCESS IF
00:19:40IT TURNS OUT THEY ARE CONNECTED?
>> I DON'T THINK IT IS NECESSARY
00:19:44TO SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
WHAT WE DO IS EVALUATE WHAT CAN
00:19:49WE DO TO IMPROVE THE REGULATORY
PROGRAM.
00:19:50WE CAN IMPROVE THE PERMITTING
REVIEW -- AND WE ARE ALWAYS
00:19:54LOOKING TO DO THIS.
WE NEVER STAY STATIC AND -- WE
00:19:58ALWAYS LOOK AT HOW CAN WE BE
BETTER AT WHAT WE DO, BE MORE
00:20:02PROTECTED.
IF IT IS ULTIMATELY FOUND AS
00:20:04WELL CAUSED THE PROBLEM, WE GO
BACK AND FIND LESSONS LEARNED
00:20:08AND WE IMPROVE THE PROGRAM FROM
THE LESSONS LEARNED.
00:20:10>> I HAVE TO SAY, WE ARE WORKING
ON A VERY COMPREHENSIVE REPORT,
00:20:14LOOKING AT NOT ONLY DOES WELL
BUT ALL THE INJECTION WELLS,
00:20:18FROM THE TIME THEY ARE
PERMITTED, CONSTRUCTED,
00:20:22INSPECTED, THE WHOLE PROCESS,
AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THE REPORT
00:20:25BY FEBRUARY 1.
>> I KNOW THE INDUSTRY HAS SAID
00:20:28FOR A LONG TIME THAT HYDRAULIC
FRACTURING HAS BEEN GOING ON IN
00:20:31OHIO FOR MANY YEARS AND SAFELY.
BUT YET THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
00:20:36ATTENTION AND THERE HAS BEEN A
RUSH OF INDUSTRY AND COMPANIES
00:20:39COMING IN AND BUYING UP LAND AND
TRYING TO START THE PROCESS.
00:20:42IS IT MOVING TOO FAST?
ARE WE GOING TO FAST IN ALLOWING
00:20:47TOO MUCH DRILLING AND FRACKING?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
00:20:50ACTUALLY -- IT IS MOVING AT A
QUICK PACE, YES.
00:20:53BUT THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN AROUND
FOR MANY YEARS.
00:20:57THE HYDRAULIC FRACTURING HAS
BEEN DONE FOR AT LEAST 50 OR 60
00:21:01YEARS SAFELY IN A VERTICAL
WELLS.
00:21:04THE NEW PROCESS HAS GONE TO
HORIZONTAL, WHICH ACTUALLY IS A
00:21:09VERY UNIQUE AND SAVE PROCESS.
AGAIN, WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT
00:21:13WITH OTHER STATES DOING IT AND
WE WILL ADDRESS ANY ISSUES, IF
00:21:17THERE ARE ANY.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE WANT TO MAKE
00:21:19SURE THIS INDUSTRY IS DONE IN A
SAFE AND SCIENTIFIC WAY.
00:21:23THAT WILL BE OUR NUMBER ONE
GOAL.
00:21:26>> RICK, YOU STAND BY THE SAFETY
OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING?
00:21:29>> YES.
WE DO NOT HAVE A DOCUMENTED
00:21:33INCIDENCE OF THE FRACKING
PROCESS EVER CAUSING A GROUND
00:21:35WATER CONTAMINATION.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN AN ESTIMATED
00:21:3880,000 HYDRAULIC FRACTURING JOBS
COMPLETED IN OHIO.
00:21:43>> IF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE MATERIAL IN THE FRACKING
00:21:47WATER, HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHAT
IS IN THE INJECTION WELLS, THE
00:21:51STUFF THAT IS BEING DISPOSED OF?
>> ODNR HAS ON ITS WEB SITE 8
00:21:57LIST OF THE CHEMICALS USED IN
FRACTURING OPERATIONS.
00:22:00WITH VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS, BUT
YOU WOULD BE A FEW PROPRIETARY
00:22:06MIXTURES WHICH TO NOT HAVE
SPECIFIC CHEMICALS BUT THE VAST
00:22:08MAJORITY OF THE CHEMICALS USED
ARE IDENTIFIED AND THEY ARE ON
00:22:12THE WEB SITE.
SO, THAT ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
00:22:15OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK.
>> THE OIL AND GAS DRILLING
00:22:20INDUSTRY IS ALSO SPEAKING OUT
ABOUT THE EARTHQUAKES, AND
00:22:22ABOUT THE PROTESTS OVER THEM.
TERRY FLEMING IS WITH THE OHIO
00:22:24PETROLEUM COUNCIL AND THE OHIO
ENERGY RESOURCE ALLIANCE, A
00:22:27COALITION OF SIX OIL AND GAS
INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS.
00:22:29I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE STATE'S
RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION,
00:22:32WHICH HE THINKS WAS APPROPRIATE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
00:22:36I MEAN, SAFETY IS FOREMOST ON
THIS.
00:22:40THEY DID THE RIGHT THING.
GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO
00:22:43FIND OUT DEFINITIVELY WHAT
CAUSED THIS.
00:22:46WAS THE DEEP WELL, WITH THE
INJECTION PART OF IT, OR NOT A
00:22:51PART OF IT?
YES, WE NEED TO ANSWER THOSE
00:22:54QUESTIONS SO WE CAN PREVENT
THINGS LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING
00:22:57IN THE FUTURE.
>> WHAT ABOUT A MORE TOM
00:22:59COMPLETELY?
LET'S STOP ALL OF THIS, THE NEW
00:23:02WELLS, HYDROFRACTURING -- WHY
NOT A MORATORIUM ON ALL OF THIS
00:23:07TO FIND OUT NOT JUST ABOUT
EARTHQUAKES BUT CLAIMS OF ANDING
00:23:10DURING PUBLIC HEALTH?
>> FIRST OF ALL, YOU ARE TALKING
00:23:13ABOUT THE WELL INJECTION WHICH
IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE
00:23:17PRODUCTION OF SHALE.
ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE ANYWHERE
00:23:21IN THE UNITED STATES THAT THE
SHALE DEVELOPMENT HAS CALLED
00:23:26GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION,
EARTHQUAKE, OR ANYTHING OF THAT
00:23:28NATURE.
THE WASTE WATER AS A RESULT OF
00:23:31PRODUCTION HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE.
IN OHIO, IT IS STATE LAW, YOU
00:23:35HAVE TO DISPOSE OF IT IN DEEP
WELL INJECTION.
00:23:39WE HAVE 175 OF THE DEEP WELLS IN
OHIO THAT HAS NEVER HAD ONE
00:23:44INCIDENT OF SEISMIC ACTIVITY IN
THE STATE.
00:23:46IT WOULD BE CRAZY TO PUT A
MORATORIUM ON SOMETHING WHERE
00:23:49THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO
DO THAT, WHERE THERE IS NO
00:23:53EVIDENCE THAT IT COULD DO
EVERYTHING.
00:23:56-- DOES ANYTHING.
WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THE
00:23:59SITUATION TO SEE WHAT REALLY
CAUSED THAT AND HOW CAN WE LEARN
00:24:02ABOUT THAT AND STOP IT FROM
HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.
00:24:05BUT SHUTTING DOWN PRODUCTION
WOULD NOT SERVE ANY PURPOSE.
00:24:09>> YOU HAD SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THAT THE STATE
00:24:13HOUSE AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE,
AS A MATTER OF FACT, AND FOR
00:24:16SOME OF THEM, THEY FEEL LIKE IT
IS A BATTLE WHERE CORPORATE
00:24:20GREED IS PITTED AGAINST PUBLIC
HEALTH.
00:24:22THAT IS THE WAY THEY SEEM TO BE
FRAMING THIS.
00:24:24TELL ME WHY THIS IS NOT
CORPORATE --
00:24:28>> I GREW UP IN SOUTHEAST OHIO.
THAT IS AN AREA OF THE STATE
00:24:31THAT HAS BEEN DEPRESSED FOR --
YOU CAN GO BACK FOR AS LONG AS I
00:24:34CAN REMEMBER.
I SUSPECT IF YOU TALK TO THE
00:24:37PEOPLE IN SOUTHEASTERN OHIO AND
ASKED THAT QUESTION, THEY WILL
00:24:40SAY, CHECK THE RESTAURANT OUT,
MOTELS ALL, TRUCKING COMPANIES,
00:24:46SAN BUSINESS -- FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN MY LIFETIME THERE IS
00:24:49HOPE AND THERE ARE JOBS IN
EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN OHIO.
00:24:52I DO NOT THINK THEY WOULD SAY
THIS IS CORPORATE GREED.
00:24:55I THINK THEY WOULD SAY THIS IS A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A PART OF
00:24:58THE STATE THAT NEED IT THE MOST
TO FINALLY HAVE SOME HOPE, SOME
00:25:03EMPLOYMENT, AND I WOULD WONDER
HOW MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE IN
00:25:07FRONT OF THE STATE HOUSE
ACTUALLY LIVE IN SOUTHEAST OHIO
00:25:09OR EASTERN OHIO.
I THINK IT IS PRETTY ARROGANT
00:25:12FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT EVEN LIVE
IN THE AREA TO TRY TO TELL
00:25:15PEOPLE WHAT THEY SHOULD OR
SHOULD NOT BE DOING.
00:25:16>> THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE
BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED
00:25:22IN THE LEGISLATURE RELATED TO
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING -- A
00:25:24MORATORIUM ON FRACKING PROPOSED
IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND
00:25:26SUPPORTED SOLELY BY DEMOCRATS,
AND A BILL TO ESTABLISH
00:25:29REQUIREMENTS ON FRACKWATER
DISPOSAL.
00:25:30THAT BILL IS SPONSORED BY SEN.
MICHAEL SKINDELL OF LAKEWOOD
00:25:33AND SUPPORTED BY TWO DEMOCRATS
AND DID HAVE A REPUBLICAN CO-
00:25:34SPONSOR -- FORMER SEN. TIM
GRENDELL OF GEAUGA COUNTY IN
00:25:37NORTHEAST OHIO.
HE HAS SINCE LEFT THE
00:25:40LEGISLATURE FOR A JUDGESHIP.
AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK.
00:25:44FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT OHIO PUBLIC
RADIO AND TELEVISION, THANKS
00:25:47FOR WATCHING.
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00:25:55AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT
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Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions