Health Impacts:

Negative public health impacts caused by fracking and its infrastructure such as pipeline compressor stations continue to be proven. A recent peer-reviewed study published in PLOS One links childhood leukemia with living near oil and gas development. The study found that children and young adults who were diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia were 4.3 times more likely to live within 10 miles of an active oil and gas well than kids with other types of cancer. More information can be found here: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0170423

Another recent fracking study finds children at greater risk of respiratory health problems. In the first comprehensive literature review to date on the respiratory health risks associated with UOG, experts from the Center for Environmental Health, the Institute for Health and the Environment, Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments have found that these operations are particularly harmful to infants and young children. Children and newborns may suffer disproportionately from exposure to air pollutant emissions from UOG development. According to the review, a young person's developing respiratory system is particularly vulnerable to air pollution. The study, Hazards of UOG Emissions on Children’s and Infants’ Respiratory Health, was published today in the journal Reviews on Environmental Health.

Also, according to a 2014 study by researchers at Yale, people living near natural gas wells were more than twice as likely to report upper-respiratory and skin problems than those not living near the extraction area.

A Compendium of Health Effects associated with fracking can be found here: http://concernedhealthny.org/compendium/. "The document opens with sections on two of the most acute threats—air pollution and water contamination—and ends with medical and scientific calls for more study and transparency. Readers will notice the ongoing upsurge in reported problems and health impacts, making each section top-heavy with recent data."

Studies are being published on a regular basis to prove that fracking is harmful to public health, especially to those most vulnerable, infants, children and the elderly.

Pipeline Opposition Mounts in Ohio

The huge Energy Transfer Rover and Willaims’ Nexus projects add to pipeline overbuild in Ohio/Michigan. Not only will the overbuild provide added incentive to expand the fracking industry in Ohio, the disruption and destruction of regional forests and farm acreage as well as the cumulative impacts of emissions from pipeline leaks and compressor stations are not being studied adequately. As a result, grassroots groups are forming all across the state join others nationwide who are committed to protecting their communities and preserving their private property rights. More information can be found on our Facebook page, Ohioans Against Pipelines for Export: https://www.facebook.com/Ohioans-Against-Pipelines-for-Export-767890669912924/

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED:

Because of the catastrophic environmental impacts of fracking, Ohioans are asking that you oppose the leasing of the Wayne National Forest for fracking. The United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have approved up to 40,000 acres of forest land, directly from the Marietta unit of the Wayne for fracking. FreshWater Accountability Project (www.FWAP.org) has filed comments in opposition to the leasing which have not been addressed, so the lease sales should not be allowed to continue.

We need your intervention to preserve Ohio’s only National Forest and the future economic and environmental benefits that protected places bring to the State. Ohioans can act by calling Regional Forester Kathleen Atkinson (414-297-3765) and requesting that she WITHDRAW the Wayne National Forest from auction. A full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of fracking impacts must be done! Such a study requires evaluation of up-to-date science and a meaningful public input process which is not happening.