February 2, 2012
By Cameron S.
Ohio started off the New Year with their 11th earthquake since March near the Youngstown area. Over the past year Ohio Governor John Kasich has welcomed energy companies with open arms, “I told them if you come to Ohio and you screw up – you’re not going to want to screw up.”
The earthquakes since March have put the 177 deep well injection sites in Ohio under the microscope. According to Columbia University seismic experts, the injection of 100,000+ barrels of oilfield waste fluids into a fault line probably caused the quake. The wells are known as Class II injection wells and the waste they hold contains a brine-water mix that contains chemicals used in the oil and gas production process.
“Pennsylvania only has six injection wells like the one thought to have triggered earthquakes in Youngstown,” said Kent Jackson, staff writer for the Times-Tribune. Because of this Ohio has been accepting much oilfield waste from out-of-state, including Pennsylvania. According to The Plain Dealer Ohio’s disposal wells are needed more than ever, with nearly 37,000 barrels a day, records show a 60 percent increase in out-of-state waste.
Ohio isn’t the only area that has experienced this phenomenon; Oklahoma has endured more than 50 earthquakes this past year alone. The bulk of these occurred within 2.1 miles of Eola Field, a fracking operation in Southern Garvin County, the most recent date being measured at 5.6. This earthquake was Oklahoma’s biggest earthquake to date. “There are 181 injection wells in the Oklahoma County where most of the weekend earthquakes happened,” said Matt Skinner, spokesman for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which oversees oil and gas production in the state and intrastate transportation pipelines.
State Rep. Bob Hagan of Youngstown said, “We’re dealing with earthquakes and we’re dealing with a dangerous chemical solution that seems to have found a home in Ohio.”
November 6, 2011
According to a story in the U.K.’s Blackpool Gazette on 10/15/2011, British energy chiefs have sent a stark warning to shale gas company Cuadrillo Resources to stop the tremors or be shut down. It comes as the company held urgent talks with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to consider a report about the risk of earthquakes associated with fracking. The meetings followed the British Geological Survey’s (BGS) conclusion that two recent earth tremors felt nearby were most likely caused by fracking. See story at blackpoolgazette.co.uk
November 2, 2011
Cloudless blue skies and high temperatures provided the setting for the annual Hancock Community Fall Festival on Saturday, October 8, 2011. Attractions at Fireman’s Park included a bake sale to benefit the Hancock Education Foundation, face painting and mini-golf for the kids, hay rides and hot dogs and mammoth pumpkins for sale.
The main event, however, was the field of tractors in all shapes and sizes. The tractor parade is the highlight of the Fall Festival. When Hancock first started the Fall Festival the tractor portion of the parade was small; with only three or four entries. But as more enthusiasts heard about the parade the number of participants has increased. This year there were 39 tractors and one team of horses.
Robert R., a life-long resident of Hancock, was one of the first people to bring his tractor to the Fall Festival. His love for the community combined with his passion for rebuilding John Deere tractors played an integral role in the growth of the parade through the years.
Four years ago Bob R. passed away but his spirit lives on as every October more and more tractors show up to roll through the streets of Hancock.
In 2008 the parade became The Bob R. Memorial Parade. His daughter, Cindy A., said, “My father was special in his willingness to use his skills to help other people. I really admired that and the humble way he did it. It is a testament to his kindness to others that the community named this parade after him.”
“It’s a wonderful thing, where people get together. I participate because the more tractors the better, and I can help out. It’s good for the town. I hope this gets passed on for generations to come,” said Callicoon resident Bill E.
In the future, Terrence O. (the parade organizer) hopes to increase the size of the parade, adding a tractor rodeo, barrel rolling and tractor drag racing.
